aye.creator
For many locals, stepping inside Galaxy Skate feels like stepping back into a cherished memory — and that’s exactly what new owner Ashley Reed wants. A lifelong roller skater with a background in accounting, project management, she never expected a layoff would propel her back towards her childhood obsession. But Ashley saw a business opportunity in the old abandoned Skate Town rink in Grapevine – as well as a chance to restore something her community deeply missed. Today, Galaxy Skate has brought local skaters back to their feet, fueled by passion, nostalgia and a mission to make roller skating part of everyday life again.
MY CAREER TOOK A TURN I DIDN’T EXPECT…
I earned my accounting degree, worked as a project manager and eventually joined the IRS, and I truly enjoyed every one of those roles. But when I got laid off, everything shifted. I had already started working on Galaxy Skate in my spare time, and suddenly I had the space to pour my energy into it. Looking back, that layoff was a blessing in disguise.
OPENING GALAXY SKATE HAS BEEN A TRUE LABOR OF LOVE…
The building had great bones, but bringing it [back] to life was incredibly hands-on. So much of what you see inside came from donations. Even the pews people sit on were gifted to us by a church. It’s been a total DIY effort from day one, and seeing it come together has made every step worth it.
OUR OPENING NIGHT WAS A MOMENT I’LL NEVER FORGET…
We had 450 people come through the doors, which is a great night for any rink, let alone a brand-new one. As we kept showing up on social media, more people started coming — and now we’re already seeing regulars. There’s a dad who teaches his son how to skate here. There’s a man who proposed to his wife in the center of this rink twenty years ago; even after she passed away, he still comes in to skate. We even have an 85-year-old who rolls in regularly. That’s what we want: a place for everyone.
I HAVE DREAMS OF EXPANDING…
Into the Prosper and Celina area. I want Galaxy Skate in Grapevine to be our “proof of concept” location and then use that to build more rinks. That’s a ways off in the future but I know we have something here that people love.
MY MISSION IS TO BRING ROLLER SKATING BACK…
Roller skating isn’t always top of mind for people, but once they rediscover it, they’re hooked. Kids are already learning tricks. Families are booking parties. We’re creating a community around something joyful and active. I don’t believe skate rinks are going away. Not in forty years, not ever. There’s too much love for it.
SKATE TOWN LEFT A HOLE IN THIS AREA…
I’m in a lot of mom groups online, and as soon as Galaxy Skate opened, there was so much chatter — not just about us, but about how much people missed having a rink here in Grapevine, Colleyville and Southlake. When Skate Town closed [in 2021 after 24 years in business], something disappeared from the community. So why not bring life back into the building that already held so many memories?
SKATING IS…
…part of who I am, and so is business. Galaxy Skate is the place where those two loves finally meet and where I get to build something meaningful for my kids and this community.