Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
A very cool dining experience at Ice Line
Facility’s operators see big score potential in their new restaurant
“It’s a popular trend among ice venues. You need to have something like this to have people come back.” — Dave Foreman, chief financial officer of Ice Line
WEST GOSHEN » The operators of a popular indoor ice skating facility believe they’ll start seeing a return on their multimillion-dollar investment next week as crowds traditionally grow during the week between Christmas and New Year.
This will be the first holiday season visitors to Ice Line will be able to watch the action on the ice below – and on three other sheets in the sprawling complex on Lawrence Drive – while enjoying a beverage or meal at the facility’s new Goal Line restaurant.
It is part of a 10,000-squarefoot addition Ice Line completed in August that includes new high end locker rooms, offices and storage areas as well as a “green roof” where the restaurant plans to grow vegetables for its dishes.
Goal Line, which looks down on one sheet of ice and has closed circuit TVs broadcasting the action of three others, is part of management’s commitment to keep the rink in the forefront of the amateur hockey and ice skating worlds, said Dave Foreman, chief financial officer of Ice Line.
“It’s a popular trend among ice venues,” Foreman said of the new restaurant. “You need to have something like this to have people come back.”
The restaurant is run by Robert Staurowsky who has a background in fine dining, having been trained in fine French cuisine. Goal Line has seating for 175 and a commitment to fresh ingredients in its gastropub, he said.
“Things are starting to pick up,” Staurowsky said of the restaurant now that the busy time of year is arriving. The restaurant, which is open to the general public, serves lunch and dinner and pub food during late night skate sessions. It also serves breakfast on the weekends.
On average Ice Line attracts 5,000 people a week during the in-season months of October through March, said Foreman. Off season, the number drops to around 2,500.
Parents bringing their children to practice and those attending tournaments expressed a desire for a place to relax and eat while waiting.
The project received funding assistance through Seedcopa, an organization run with partners like the Chester County Economic Development Council that help companies find funding for expansion.
Sherwood P. Robbins, managing director, said Seedcopa acted as a liaison to help Ice Line get an SBA loan
Seedcopa’s projects must demonstrate an economic impact beyond the business itself, Robbins said.
In this case, Ice Line showed it attracts thousands of people to attend its tournaments, a
benefit to area hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions.
“They got us over the hump to obtain the longterm financing,” Foreman said.
For Ice Line, opened in 1994, the new amenities are important so it can keep up in the highly competitive world of junior ice hockey and as a tournament destination. The new locker rooms are miles ahead what Ice Line previously offered, said General Manager Jim Binns. And with the completion of the new locker rooms, the old ones became femalespecific locker rooms.
“Female participation is the area for hockey that is growing,” Binns said, adding that the upgraded locker rooms can be a recruitment tool to attract top-level talent from outside the area to play at Ice Line. “Some of these kids are highly sought after.”
Additionally, the upgrades allow Ice Line to promote itself to other organizations as a place to hold functions. During the less busy times of year a rink can be melted and drained and is large enough to hold an event such as an expo or conference, Binns said.
To contact Business Writer Brian McCullough, call 610-235-2655 or send an email to bmccullough@21stcenturymedia.com.