Whittier Announced a Roller Rink. We Confirmed It's Not Coming
The City announced a roller rink was coming to the Whittier Packing House. The mayor repeated it days before an election. The developer told us it's not going to happen.
That roller skating rink we heard was coming to the Whittier Packing House at Philadelphia St and Whittier Blvd? It's not happening.
Whittier Informed confirmed with the property developer on April 6 that the concept is not being pursued.
How We Got Here
In September 2024, former City Manager Brian Saeki announced during the State of the City address that a roller rink was expected to come to the Packing House, the Philadelphia Street and Whittier Boulevard property where King Richard's Antique Center is located. King Richard's is not affected by the redevelopment plans.
The announcement generated significant excitement. State of the City addresses typically spotlight a city's major priorities and commitments, not wishful thinking.
Shortly after, Whittier Informed received tips that the project wasn't moving forward, but we were unable to confirm that with the property developer at the time.
Then on April 4, 2026, 10 days before the April 14 local election, the Whittier Daily News published a Q&A with Mayor Joe Vinatieri about his 2026 reelection campaign, in which he said, "I am hopeful a new roller-skating rink will open in the future when the Whittier Packing House opens."
What the Developer Actually Said
So we reached out to the property developer, and on April 6, they confirmed it: a roller rink is not being pursued.
The concept was explored early on in coordination with the City, but further review revealed it would require a special permit, along with substantial building upgrades and retrofits to meet current code. Given the scope and cost, it was ruled out.
Ground Review, the site's developer, said they are now actively in discussions with a strong group of retail and experiential tenants across food, wellness, and family-oriented uses that they believe will create a meaningful destination for Whittier.
Why This Mattered to Whittier
For many residents, the idea of a roller rink returning hit close to home. Whittier Skateland was a community institution that operated for 51 years at 12520 Whittier Blvd before closing when its owner sold the property to a group of companies responsible for cleaning up a hazardous waste site next door, formerly occupied by Omega Chemical Corp.
Omega Chemical operated from 1976 to 1991, contaminating the surrounding soil and groundwater with volatile organic compounds. The site was designated a federal Superfund site — a classification reserved for some of the most contaminated locations in the country, triggering a federally mandated cleanup process. Air pollution from the Omega site had been seeping into Skateland's building, and a federally mandated ventilation system would have required a temporary closure. The owner opted to sell rather than go through that process. The building was later demolished.
For many Whittier residents, Skateland wasn't just a rink. It was a rite of passage.
About the Whittier Packing House
The Whittier Packing House has its own storied history. Originally built in 1894, the Whittier Citrus Association purchased and expanded the facility between 1904 and 1913, where it served as the cannery, warehouse and packing plant for the Whittier District Fruit Exchange — one of the city's main economic engines for many years. Today the property is home to King Richard's Antique Center and is in the early stages of redevelopment.
What's Next
The gap between what was announced publicly, what is actually feasible, and what city leadership was still saying days before an election raises questions worth noting.
Whittier Informed will continue to follow what's coming to the Whittier Packing House.
