MCHENRY, IL — The former Just for Fun Roller Rink in McHenry will be demolished.

The McHenry City Council officially gave approval to clear the site where the rink, which was destroyed by a fire last year, once stood during a meeting Monday, according to the Northwest Herald. Mayor Wayne Jett says he's hopeful the city will be able to quickly "flip" the property along Front Street.

"The city of McHenry now owns the roller rink property. It's been a process but you will start seeing the demo of the existing roller rink starting as early as today. This property will go on the market to be sold for development following the cleanup," Jett wrote in a post on his Facebook page.

Following the announcement, dozens of people took to Jett's Facebook page, suggesting new business's that should move in.

Many wanted a new roller rink to open up, perhaps one that included whirly ball and an arcade. Others suggested new restaurants, including a Chick-fil-A, Portillo's, Texas Roadhouse, or Red Lobster. Indoor pickleball, an ice rink, entertainment center and glow-in-the-dark mini golf were also among residents' suggestions.

But what do you think should go into the property? Let us know in our survey.

Last June, two teen were arrested in connection with arson in connection with the fire at the Just For Fun building.

Authorities say the boys, who were both 14 years old at the time, fled the scene after starting the massive blaze at 914 N. Front Street just before 10:30 p.m. on May 28, according to authorities. The building formerly housed the Just For Fun Roller Rink, a roller skating rink that had been in the community for 75 years before closing last fall.

In August 1931, Clarence Neisen opened a dance hall on the property after his former dance hall, the Fox Pavilion, was burnt down in May 1931.

His first dance hall, located on Lincoln Road east of the Fox River, was very popular, but the second, which he built at the Route 31 location, did not draw the same number of people in, according to a McHenry Area Historical Society Facebook post.

In July 1945, Just For Fun Roller Rink opened. The roller rink was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hirchmugl and their son, Robert Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Hirchmugl also owned a business in Chicago called E-Z Roll Wheel Company where they made wooden skate wheels and distributed them to roller rinks throughout the country, according to the historical society Facebook post. A small part of the McHenry building was also used to manufacture the wheels.

In the early days of the skating rink, it featured organ music, and a refreshment bar was later added to the building. In addition, the rink eventually offered skating lessons, according to the Facebook post.

A slowdown in business during the COVID pandemic led to the shutdown of the Just For Fun Roller Rink last fall.

The owner of the business, Lisa Duncan, had hopes of reopening the rink, possibly in the next year.

"[S]adly that will never happen now," Duncan wrote in a post shared on community Facebook pages in the McHenry area. Duncan continues to operate a Just For Fun 2 Roller Rink in Mundelein.

Duncan said she rented the Route 31 building from the Cepulis family, and the building and property, at the time of the fire, was owned by a trust in the name of the Cepulis family. Duncan shared information regarding the ownership of the building to clear up "ugly rumors and mistruths" that were circulating following the fire.

"I hope this puts any accusations or beliefs that I or anyone associated with Just For Fun Roller Rink had any wrongdoing in this devastating fire, or the lapse in business holdings related to the building itself, (for example, building or property insurance)," she wrote in the Facebook post. "I had insurance on our business as was required when I occupied the building."

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