Roller Skating To Return After Baker's Reopening Announcement

HUDSON, MA — On the heels of Gov. Charlie Baker's reopening announcement on Thursday, the owner of a local roller skating and laser tag venue says he's ready to open.

The state will enter Phase 3, Step 2 of its reopening plan Monday, drastically easing restrictions on businesses that have felt the squeeze since the start of the pandemic. Capacity at most businesses, including offices and gyms, will increase to 50 percent, while other businesses will reopen altogether.

Indoor performance venues, such as concert halls and theaters, will reopen at 50 percent capacity with a 500-person limit. Indoor recreational activities with the potential for greater contact, such as laser tag, roller skating, trampolines and obstacle courses, can reopen at 50 percent.

Roller Kingdom Vice President Jeff Theise said Thursday he is planning to reopen the Hudson and Tyngsborough skating rinks by the weekend of March 5. The Hudson venue had to shut down in October when the town joined the state's list of high risk communities — the beginning of several dark months as coronavirus cases rose across the state.

Roller Kingdom is one of the few roller skating rinks left in Massachusetts following the October closure of Skylite Roller Skating in Worcester.

"Today's announcement is a good sign and a move in the right direction in getting back to that 'next normal' but we know businesses continue to hurt, and we have to find ways to help them get through all this," Baker said Thursday.

Patch editor Scott Souza contributed to this report.