Skating Rink from the ground up

Question

Hello

  I'm currently working for a Family Entertainment Company down in Georgia and we are going to be expanding our business by opening a skating rink next to our Fun Center and Movie Theater.  I will be the General Operations Manager and will be involved in process from the ground up.   
 Right now I have a Skating floor of 150 ft by 70 ft.  
A DJ Booth that will be equiped with Lighting, Music, and a Large TV control center, 2 Party Rooms, Concessions Area with a grill for foods such as hamburgers, wings, and other small meals, A skate rental pick up place, Two storage rooms, Sales Area (for selling skates ect...), Men and Womens restroom, 2 Seating area's, One Mid size 15X12 Office, and three Large Benches that run along side the skating rink.      
   Since this is a new project I'm looking for any general suggestions to make this process flow easier.  I would appreciate help from the building phase to suggestions on opperation techniques.   

Anything you can think of would be helpful.

Thanks so much

  Patrick

Answer
Hi Patrick,
  I can't really help you with the building phase and I've never been involved with that part of things.  But here are to good web sites than can perhaps help with things.  

http://www.rinkconsulting.com/

http://www.seskate.com/build/index.html

Keep in mind that birthday parties are a big money maker for all the rinks so make sure you have plenty of space available to hold them.  You don't want to limit yourself to hosting only 2 parties in your party rooms...you can always use tables in your snack bar area for parties also.  You may want to charge people differently for having them in a private room.....that is your choice.

You will also need lockers for people to put their personal belonging in. You will also need a floor scrubber to wash your floor.  If the floor gets to dirty it becomes slippery and also makes the wheels on the rental skates very dirty.  You will need large floor dust mops for dry mopping the dust and debris after each public session.  Little bits of things left of the floor can cause people to fall and get hurt and neglect is what makes you liable for a law suit.

Just make sure that your employees know what their jobs are and make sure you do them.  Usually the floor guards are responsible for dusting the floor after each public session.

Down the road you may want to offer kids beginner skating classes.  This brings kids and parents to your rink and teaching them to skate assures that they will come back.   When you get to that stage, write me again and I'll send you an outline of what I use at our rink for successful classes.

Good Luck and if I can help any further, please feel free to write again.

Pat