BRICK – Will the Ocean Ice Palace close its doors for good, or is it just the owners who are retiring?
On July 6, the owners posted on social media “Ocean Ice Palace & Ocean Hockey Supply will be closing their doors at the end of this month. We are extremely thankful to all the friends who have become family and customers who have become friends over the years. The decision was not made lightly and certainly not without being given much thought.” They said the pro shop would be open through the end of the month.
The Patch might have been the first to report on its closure, and 101.5 had a segment about it. Everyone shared their memories of this iconic location.
However, a week later, The Patch reported that a confidential source close to the situation revealed that there is a possible purchase in the works. The source said that the facility will continue to be used as an ice rink. The above post was removed from social media. Staff at the rink did not respond to a request for comment.
The rink, located on Chambersbridge Road, dates back to 1962. It was started by Dr. Leon J. Dwulet. His daughter, Joan Dwulet, currently owns it, and it’s managed by Raven (Joan’s daughter) and Andrew Barten.
The rink drew thousands of young people who learned how to skate there and also held pee wee hockey tournaments. Some of those players later became members of the National Hockey League. Many high school and club championships were won there as well.
The Ice Palace was home to many of Brick’s youth and high school hockey teams for most of its history and has seen a number of its players go on to the college ranks and some go to the pros. The website said it hosts New Jersey Guardians, Manalapan Cannons, Brick Stars Challenger Hockey & War at the Shore Hockey Tournament. It also cites tournaments, clinics and camps throughout the year run by Ocean Hockey Academy.
This isn’t the first time the ice rink’s future was unknown.
Even going back to 2007, it was in the public eye as possibly being bought by the township of Brick to be converted into a community center. Former Councilman Stephen Acropolis, who comes from a huge hockey family, campaigned on it when he won the vote for mayor. His opposition criticized this possible purchase, because operating costs were not known.
The town was looking to purchase it for $5.2 million. They had plans to put in therapy pools and sell the naming rights of the building. There was talk of moving township offices in Civic Plaza to there and then selling the Plaza. They were hoping to make money off of it in the long run.
Opponents of the purchase had concerns that the aging buildings would cost too much to maintain or fix, and that building additions to the property to house various interests in Brick would cost untold millions. During the negotiation, the owner showed how much money is brought in, but the costs of upkeep and running the facility was kept from the town.
The purchase would have been between a private entity, the ice rink, and a public one, the township. This made the whole matter a lot more public than the sellers would have liked.
After a long time of waiting, the Dwulet family pulled out of negotiations and put it on the market but it never sold.
Ultimately, it reminded residents of the Foodtown purchase.
The Foodtown on Route 70 was bought in 2003 for $6.1 million and was at one time going to be a community center. It has since sat there, without any money coming in on the tax rolls.
