Of the multiple Skateland locations that once operated in the Omaha area, only one remains as a skating rink. That honor belongs to Skate City in Bellevue, which retains a look and feel highly reminiscent of the family business Frank Cernik started more than 50 years ago.
The Skateland founder originally set a goal of opening 200 locations across the country when he launched Skate City International. Over the following decades, he opened locations in Minnesota, Arizona, and North Dakota, alongside those in Omaha, Irvington, Millard, and Bellevue.
Beginning in 1970, the Cernik family operated the Bellevue location until the early 2000s. Unable to sell the property, Frank reopened the rink for a time with partners after repainting the facility, resurfacing the rink, and adding a children’s play center.
Not long afterward, David Frank and his wife, Michelle, took ownership of Skateland and renamed it Skate City. David had his first roller-skating experience at just six years old and loved it so much that he landed his first job at a rink handing out skates. He eventually worked his way up to management before becoming an owner in 2005.
Despite the proliferation of entertainment options not to mention competing sports such as parkour, Skate City remains a popular destination for kids in the area. Its current owners have continued to emphasize the family-friendly nature of the business, providing certificates that allow kids to skate for free during winter breaks. They also remain active on social media in addition to hosting fundraisers.
The business has, of course, evolved since it first opened and now offers options beyond traditional roller skating, including roller hockey and camps during the summer, non-school days, and after-school hours. The facility is also popular for birthday parties, skate lessons, and open skating. It remains as family-friendly as ever, with David saying in 2019 that they operate the business as if their own kids were being dropped off: “We control our facility really well, so it’s very safe, and we want everyone to have fun.”
In the 20 years since reopening as Skate City, the former Skateland has built its own legacy while preserving the welcoming, all-ages atmosphere that defined it for decades, giving parents a chance to relive their youth in a space that still feels familiar.
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