Black-Owned Rollin CLT Rink & Lounge Bring Skate Culture to North Carolina

Charlotte entrepreneurs Kendria Holmes, Brandi Fox, and Sh’niqua Ussery opened their outdoor roller rink, Rollin CLT Rink & Lounge, over Labor Day weekend.

Holmes had been interested in opening a skating rink and lounge since 2016. Rollin CLT became

more than an idea after Holmes met Fox and Ussery, who shared her vision.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to open up a skating rink because we don’t currently have any in Charlotte. Everything else is on the outskirts,” she told Travel Noire.

All three women grew up in Charlotte and wanted to bring some wholesome fun to their hometown.

“We are all Charlotte natives, so it’s like homegrown,” Fox told WSPA “I think it just really brings that Charlotte loves into one place and that’s really what we’re trying to do. This is just the beginning.”

The trio celebrated Rollin CLT’s grand opening with a kickoff event on Saturday.

In addition to the skating rink and lounge, Rollin CLT offers

food trucks, games and vending space for business owners. Rollin CLT will start launch skating lessons and a mobile skating service this fall.

Ussery, Fox and Holmes plan to use their business to give back to the community through their Rollin’ Homies youth program, which will teach Charlotte youth essential life skills.

“Things they are not learning in school; financial education, financial literacy, trading and investing, entrepreneurship, business building, life skills,” Holmes explained.

“You get on Tik Tok and you see everybody skating and we were like ‘Oh, this is what we’re supposed to do, this is how we bring the people together,’” Ussery told WSPA.

Rollin CLT is only open on the weekend. Customers can rent skates for $3 or bring their own. Adult tickets cost $20 and kids get in for $10.

The trio plan to open an indoor rink next year.