Goodbye, Jellybeans: Skate family shares 25 years of memories and photos

Hundreds of people lined up around Jellybeans over the past weekend, each hoping to take one last photo, to create one final memory.

Then staff, skate family and fans alike took to social media to share their nostalgia and photos from a quarter-century worth of memories, dating all the way back to the early days.

We've collected those memories and photos here, to help us all remember and say goodbye to an iconic piece of Cary.

No one has more memories of Jellybeans than Justin Farley. The son of Bill Farley, the owner of Jellybeans, Justin literally grew up with a skate family.

"Growing up at Jellybeans was pretty cool. It’s where everyone went on the weekends to hang out on Friday and Saturday night – so to have your dad own the place was a really special thing," he said.

Like many others who spent their teenage years in Cary, Justin spent every weekend skating with his friends.

"I had my big group of friends out there," he said. "As we grew up, we kind of all went our own separate ways, but we’ll always have those memories of the old Friday night crew."

He remembers having his 10th birthday party at Jellybeans and sharing Christmas memories with the staff.

"Especially when I was little, I'd really look up to the staff. They were so cool," he recalled. "They were grown ups and could skate fast."

He said after spending 80% of his childhood there, it hasn't fully hit him yet that Jellybeans is gone forever.

He also said it will be weird to drive past and see the building still there but missing the playful, colorful Jellybeans sign.

"I feel for everyone who will miss it. A lot of people went there every week," he said. "Those are just awesome memories that we’ll have forever. Those people who visited us for the past 25 years will always have a special place in our heart."

Kristy Creager has three generations worth of memories at Jellybeans.

"My parents and I started going there when I was 8. Eventually, my mom took over Skate School, which meant I grew up at Jellybeans, then Skate School became my first job," shared Kristy Creager, who shared many photos from the early days of Jellybeans.

After growing up skating with her own mother, Creager said she was fortunate to have had both of her own kids grow up in the rink as well.

Her baby shower was even held at Jellybeans.

"My oldest child was born early, so we left the hospital and went straight to the rink where my baby shower was being held," said Creager. "She got to see her second home before her first."

Jellybeans has also been a life-long memory for Elle Dub, who shared photos taken of she and her husband taken around 17 years apart – both at Jellybeans.

And while the pandemic dampened 2020, some people even used the rink as a way to see their 'skate family' and get exercise while staying safe.

"We rented out the rink every Wednesday we could while the pandemic shut public skating down," said Dub.

Even for folks who didn't grow up at Jellybeans, many parents have years of memories watching their own children grow up on the skating rink, making precious memories with best friends.

Other parents have holiday memories, like watching their kids win prizes and over-sized stockings full of toys.

"My kids won the stocking at Jellycamp in December 2015," said Jennifer Chamberlain.

"I couldn't believe when they called one of the girls' names. It was the grand prize drawing!" she said.

For those who want a piece of Jellybeans to hold onto, the skating rink is holding a clearance sale of their inventory starting Wednesday, Feb. 10.

It will be from 3 to 7 p.m., according to the Jellybeans website. The sale will continue throughout the week, with times listed on the website, until supplies run out.

"Come out and take home a piece of Jellybeans memorabilia," reads the website.

All items are 'cash and carry.'