CEDAR HILL, Texas — Known as “Super Dave” by locals in Cedar Hill, Dave Candanoza is known for owning the oldest operating roller rink in Texas.
Opened in 1956, Cedar Hill Roller Rink, called “The Rink” by those who love it, has served as a place to make memories for the last six decades.
“According to my research, we’re the oldest. There’s a rink in Dallas that opened in 1961, and one on San Antonio that opened in 1959,” said Candanoza. “I’ve looked all over Texas, and those are the next closest to me. We’re even older than the Dallas Cowboys. They weren’t established until 1960.”
Candanoza has owned the rink for the last 16 years and has fond memories of visiting when he was a kid growing up in Cedar Hill.
“I have so many stories, I could write a book,” said Candanoza.
The old rink is a place for fun and it's a place kids come on the weekends for open-skate nights and private parties. Candanoza keeps the same rules enforced when he skated on the same wood floors back in the early 80s.
“There’s no making-out, nothing like that,” said Candanoza. “The most you can do really is hold hands, old-school rules strictly enforced, and if you don’t like it, you know there is other rinks around that will let you do whatever, not here.”
In 2020 when COVID-19 shut down non-essential businesses, the rink had to close its doors and Candanoza feared it was the end.
“We were closed down for three months,” said Candanoza. “I got so behind. Us being closed didn’t stop the bills from coming, the electric bill still came, the water bill, all that. It was a disaster.”
At the start of the pandemic, thousands of Texas businesses were forced to close permanently. The Texas Restaurant Association estimates the state lost more than 9,000 restaurants alone because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Candanoza said he applied for federal aid to keep the rink open, but was unsuccessful. That’s when the City of Cedar Hill’s office of Economic Development came to the rescue.
The office’s Cedar Hill Strong Grant/Loan Program distributed more than $850,000 in support of small Cedar Hill business owners like Candanoza.
Assistant Director of Economic Development Andy Buffington, said the Cedar Hill City Council voted unanimously to approve funding for the program, allowing dozens of local business-qualified applicants to be fully funded. The opportunity was made available by way of the Federal CARES Act in coordination with Dallas County.
“We were so happy to help just around 75 businesses that applied,” said Buffington. “We were able to help Super Dave with $15,000 of financial aid through this grant that he won’t have to pay back.”
Candanoza remembers getting emotional the day he got the news he’d be getting financial help.
“I just got so choked-up and just started crying,” he said. “I was just so happy. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders knowing that money was coming.”
Now, kids like Elijah Sweeten from Arlington still have “The Rink.” He chose to celebrate his 12th birthday at the roller rink because he loves the retro vibes newer rinks can't offer.
“This one was a different experience,” said Sweeten. “I was so happy when my parents told me I would be able to have my party here. It’s just so cool and different.” And “being different” is what Super Dave said keeps him in business.
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