Monterey Skates plans to set up shop at the Del Monte Center.

Max Troyer and Morgan Goyette are determined to keep the party rolling. After scheduling conflicts interfered with their biweekly pop-up skating rink in the 7,000-square-foot King City Room at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, Troyer was notified that Monterey Skates' contract would only last through the first quarter of 2026.

Goyette and Troyer began looking for a more permanent home and they think they’ve found it at the Del Monte Center in Monterey. Troyer received the keys to the former 22,489-square-foot Forever 21 storefront located at 1500 Del Monte Center in Monterey on March 2, and likes the prospect of skating in a former retail store. 

“[The floor] is polished tile. It’s wonderful to skate on. Super smooth and the grout is really thin so you don’t feel like a ‘clickity-clackity’ as you're skating around. It’s a nice floor to skate on,” he says. 

Troyer says they will be considered temporary renters at the space with an indefinite end date. As part of the conditions of the lease, Monterey Skates isn’t allowed to alter the interior much. But because it has been vacant since Forever 21 closed in 2019, Troyer is hopeful: “If we can stay in the space, we’ll be there.” 

Having a place to skate that isn’t burdened by blackout dates at the fairgrounds is a welcomed development to Troyer and Goyette’s mission of reviving a permanent skating rink in Monterey County. They’ve been working at that for more than five years.

“Years ago I was trying to buy the Water City business from Mark Tanous,” says Troyer, referring to the old Water City Roller Hockey and Skating Rink in Marina that’s been shuttered since March 2020.

Before they can open the doors at their new location, the City of Monterey has to ensure that it meets municipal code requirements. A conditional use permit is currently under review by the City to change the land use from retail to commercial recreation. A City official says this process takes about a month before it is referred to the Zoning Administrator for a public meeting, so long as there are no questions or concerns about it from City staff.

Troyer has a vision of setting up the space for birthday parties, corporate events and welcoming field trips of skaters. He also envisions educational events and summer camps happening, along with welcoming back DJs Alex Ramirez, Dan Terndrup and Spencer Ramirez for their adults-only night skating events with a more consistent schedule than before. 

MONTEREY SKATES happens March 6-8 and March 27-28 in the King City Room at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey.