How Chez-Vous Transformed From Roller Rink to Soul Food Restaurant In the Pandemic | Eater Boston

"I've always known Chez-Vous Roller Skating Rink, open in Dorchester since 1933, as a linchpin of Boston’s Black community and a beloved, family-friendly place for birthday parties, school trips, and multi-generational memories. On a typical Friday night before the pandemic the lacquered wooden surface would be full of people flowing and dancing under colorful lights from glow sticks, strobes, and arcade games; over the past year, however, the only lights have come from the kitchen as the rink pivoted to food service when indoor entertainment was shut down. Since the Toney family bought the business in the 1990s they upgraded the concession-style menu—everything made from scratch—and that reputation for quality soul food (crispy golden fried chicken, baked mac and cheese, smoky collard greens, candied yams, cornbread, daily specials like fried dough, fried Oreos and jerk chicken) has helped keep the business afloat; patrons praised fried wings and haddock that stayed moist and crisp through pickup, and the slushy and occasional treats like chicken and red velvet waffles were crowd-pleasers. To sustain community ties during the pandemic Chez-Vous hosted Sunday dinner pop-ups, held skating lessons and outdoor events in city parks, invited takeout diners to eat “in the yard,” and kept the kitchen open for takeout and Grubhub while the owners focus on rink renovations with plans to reopen the skating floor in May or early summer." - Eater