Business & Tech
History of Cal Skate: 34 Years
The history Cal Skate of Milpitas has spanned three decades in the city and two generations of the St. Germain family.
1977: Ernie and Evelyn St. Germain open Cal State of Milpitas in March. Daughter Chris St. Germain, 15-years-old when the rink opened, designs the mascot "Uncle Cal" from a doodle.
1980: Trace St. Germain, 24, joins the family business after serving in the U.S. Army. He handles maintenance issues as well as builds custom skating equipment.
1983: The family manages two other rinks in Fresno-Clovis at risk of closing and within two years the businesses become profitable.
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1985: Chris St. Germain leaves to pursue her education in finance accounting.
1992: Evelyn St. Germain passes away suddenly.
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1994: Chris St. Germain returns to the family business at the request of her father Ernie, who retires from day-to-day operations. The family no longer manages other facilities in the Fresno-Clovis area.
March 2011: and housing developer Robson Homes receive the green light from the Milpitas City Council to close a property deal on a townhome project. for a new skate rink and the family offers to sell the flooring from the rink.
May 2011: passes away at 85.
July 2011: Cal Skate of Milpitas schedules its last skating session for July 31.
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