Rolling again: Willow Grove Roller Rink on verge of reopening in new location

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Mother Nature, meet Mother Grojean.

Roberta Grojean is proving that her strength of will exceeds the power of the January ice storm that flattened her family business, Willow Grove Roller Rink. Within weeks, perhaps by the end of the month, Willow Grove will be back, housed in the old Dollar General store building barely 100 yards from where the old roller rink stood for several decades.

With her family doing much of the work to convert the old retail store into a skating emporium, the place is beginning to take shape. On the front of the disc jockey stand, granddaughter Michelle Dunning has painted the logo of the Willow Grove Rockets, the stunt skating troupe founded by Roberta's husband, Robert Grojean.

Dunning is doing the design work, and family members are doing much of the construction work to bring the skating rink -- the only one still in business in a wide area -- back to life.

Robert Grojean died in 1980, but Roberta Grojean kept the business going. When the building that stood for more than 40 years collapsed in January, at one point, that seemed to be the end of Willow Grove.

The interior of the former Dollar General Store in Chaffee, Mo. is being renovated for the Willow Grove Roller Rink. (Fred Lynch)

Roberta Grojean discovered that her insurance didn't cover the damage and the Federal Emergency Management Agency only had operating loans, not rebuilding help, to offer.

So the retired teacher borrowed some money and purchased the building on Highway 77. "I think everybody is excited," Grojean said as she showed off the partially finished work. "I've already had people call for parties."

The business never paid enough to make anybody wealthy, charging only $4 for two hours of skating and 50 cents for sodas. Those prices will have to go up a little, said Pam Compas, Roberta Grojean's daughter, to pay off the debt.

"We hope people understand that she's got to raise [prices] to meet the payments," Compas said during a visit to the new rink.

The biggest decision Roberta Grojean had to make was whether to rebuild or find a building to convert. Jim Maevers of Jackson, owner of Main Street Lanes and Maevers Management, said he approached the Grojean family soon after the storm to offer the retail building, which had sat empty after the Salvation Army closed a thrift store that operated there.

The decision to purchase the building took time, however. Roberta Grojean said she hoped to rebuild a new rink on the old site, but once her insurance claim was denied and FEMA could offer no help, it was clear that the costs of rebuilding were too much to consider, Roberta Grojean said.

That restarted negotiations with Maevers, who said he reduced his price to help put the community landmark back. Through his operation of the Jackson bowling alley, Maevers said he understands how important family-friendly entertainment can be to a community.

"When it happened, I was told by several people to do one in Jackson," Maevers said. "But I don't have the desire to have a roller rink. But I like being a part of bringing something back and utilizing a fairly new building."

Grojean offered him free skating when Willow Grove reopens, but Maevers laughed and said he hasn't been on skates for 15 years. "I like being planted firmly on the ground."

But he did say he plans to take his grandchildren.

Bringing Willow Grove back would be just a dream, Grojean said, if her children and friends hadn't wanted to help. Pam and her husband, Mike Compas, are directing the work and even her grandson, 9-year-old Robbie Grojean, is helping with the painting. Robbie Grojean is the fourth generation of his family to be a part of the business.

With the long history -- stories abound of couples who met in the rink decades ago and remain together -- Pam Compas said her mother misses the youngsters.

"She even says she misses the ones who caused trouble," Compas said. "They become like your extended family."

When Roberta Grojean said she wanted to start the rink again, no one in the family tried to talk her out of it, Compas said.

"We had that when we were young," she said. "We want it for our grandkids."

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Chaffee, Mo.