Retro roller skating is back in Montreal in a big way
Posted January 20, 2026 6:58 pm.
Last Updated January 20, 2026 8:52 pm.
Montreal is rolling into a new era of fun with the opening of Avenue du Patin, a retro roller-skating hotspot in Saint-Leonard.
The massive indoor rink officially opened on Dec. 31, welcoming skaters on New Year’s Eve with music, lights and a rush of nostalgia.
Blending retro style with a modern twist, the space has quickly become a gathering place for families, friends and anyone looking to relive — or discover — the joy of roller skating.
Behind the project are brothers Jonathan and Philippe Hamel, two Montreal entrepreneurs known for creating high-energy entertainment spaces. After several years working in the construction industry, the brothers turned toward entertainment ventures, starting with escape games.
Since 2024, they have started Level Up Games and Roller Avenue, with more projects planned for Montreal.
“We wanted to do a big opening on New Year’s Eve,” said Philippe.
Built on memories — and a brotherly vision
The idea for the rink grew out of listening closely to the community, particularly stories shared across generations.
“We decided to open this place because we were listening a lot to older people who wanted to reconnect with the nostalgia of how things were back then,” Philippe said. “And younger people were really saying that fashion was coming back, wanting to bring back those years because they looked like good years. Everyone talked about them as if it was magic.”
He said the goal was to bring those ideas back to life. “We wanted to take those ideas from before and bring them back now, since there wasn’t anything like it at the moment,” he said.
Working alongside his brother felt like a natural progression. Drawing on their background in construction and customer-focused work, Philippe said the move toward entertainment suited them better.
“We got to know the construction industry a bit,” he said. “Personally, I’m not someone who likes getting up early. But in general, we like working with customers. We’re guys who really enjoy entertainment. We’re very active, we like skating, we like sports. For us, it’s more pleasant to wake up and say, ‘I’m going to take care of a place like this,’ than to wake up and work with a hammer.”
A warm welcome from the community
Just weeks after opening, the response from customers has been strong.
“Honestly, we got really good feedback from our customers,” Philippe said. “A lot of older people came to thank us for opening the place. They told us it had been a very long time — some said 30 years — since they had skated, and that they were excited to relive those years. It was very well received.”
Retro look, modern energy
From the hardwood floor to the glowing neon lights, every design choice was shaped by public demand.
“We chose wood because it was really requested while we were making our videos before opening,” Hamel said. “Everyone was telling us, ‘Please make it wood — there aren’t any wooden rinks anymore. Wood hasn’t been common for a very long time,’ so we said the investment would be worth it. That’s why it’s here now.”
The lighting was designed to balance nostalgia with something new.
“We were trying to make it retro, but at the same time we felt we had to keep a certain modernity and add something new,” he said. “It was really our main attraction. We thought the pillars would stand out the most and catch people’s attention, instead of just leaving them plain.”.
More than just skating
While skating remains the main attraction, the space offers more than laps around the rink. DJs currently perform on Fridays and Saturdays, with the possibility of expanding to other days. Arcade games, drinks, snacks and party rooms for large groups are also part of the experience.
Philippe said themed nights are a key part of the vision.
“We have themed evenings that we want to offer. For Valentine’s Day, for example, we’ll try to make the place fit the Valentine’s atmosphere,” he said. “And for bigger events coming up, we want to keep that momentum. When we’re a bit better established, we’d like to do events every month. That’s the goal for now.”
A place for all generations
For skaters like Sabrina Fiori, the rink feels like stepping back in time.
“I always used to love skating when I was a child,” she said. “I love skating on the ice, but it gets cold and I was actually really sad because they’re really hard to find these places and I’ve been looking it up since they’ve been doing the updates and I’m like, ‘I’m totally going to go.’ It’s just like a nice activity. Brings back from our youth when we used to go skating when we were kids, and it just feels good.”
Visiting for the first time, she said the experience is both fun and motivating.
“So far, I’m enjoying it,” Fiori said. “I’m looking at videos on YouTube, trying to learn how to bend my knees and stuff and it’s just this really cool experience. For me, it’s a difference than going to the gym and I could just get my workout here. I’m like, ‘why not?’ Like, this is really fun.”
The atmosphere, she added, makes all the difference.
“It feels like the ;80s. It feels like my childhood. It’s just really, really fun to be here.”
Fun, fitness and fearlessness
Michelle, another visitor, said she stayed longer than planned.
“We’ve been here for a few hours, so it’s a nice burner — you burn a lot of calories,” she said. “The lights honestly. It just brings you back in time. You can stay here for hours on end, it’s really really fun, the music, the vibes — everything.”
She also sees skating as a lesson in resilience.
“When you fall down, get up, keep going,” she said. “It’s a good way to push yourself and not limit.”
Winning over the youngest skaters
Younger visitors are already making plans to return. Aya didn’t hesitate when asked how she felt about her day.
“I like this place because there’s a lot of room,” she said.
“My favourite thing is because I go fast and I like it,” she added.
Her sister Malika agreed.
“I’m really happy today,” she said. “There’s a whole bunch of music that I like, and it’s really fun to roller skate.”
They both already know where they want to celebrate their next birthday.
“I like today very much,” Malika said. “I want to do my birthday party here.”
“I want to do my birthday party too,” Aya added.
Rolling into the future
For the Hamel brothers, the rink is about more than skating.
“I think it’s a nice place because we’re the only ones in Montreal and it’s all new,” Philippe said. “It lets people discover what older generations talked about back then, and it lets us experience those years ourselves too.”
And judging by the packed rink and smiling faces, in Montreal, the best memories don’t walk — they roll.
