BELLEVUE, Wash. -- After more than 40 years in business, a popular King County roller skating rink is preparing to roll to its final resting place.



Bellevue's Skate King, which opened in 1974, will close its doors Tuesday evening. The owner has decided to lease the space to a Harley-Davidson dealership, rink managers said.



"With light rail coming in, it put the premium on properties such as this. Skating can't really pay that market value," said Michael Louis, general manager at Skate King. "I don't think you can really say goodbye to this. You can't replace something that's been around 41 years."



Louis started working at the rink about 30 years ago, he said. He's seen relationships blossom amid the flashing lights, pop music, and soda machines.



"They've met their husbands, their wives -- special people who turn out to be lifelong friends," he said. "It is a tragic loss for a lot of people."



Friday's open skate brought out everyone from childhood beginners to those who've made a career out of the sport.



"It's not what I did. It's what was created because this building was here," said Trish Alexander, executive director of Skate Journeys skate school. "This was just a place where a lot of memories have been made."



Alexander said many of the counselors for her skate camp started off as young hobbyists, eventually turning their love of skating into a full-time job.



"It's an icon here and it's a shame," Alexander said. "It's going to be a dealership of some sorts. Like, do we really need another dealership or do we need a rink?"



Skate King closes Tuesday night at 7 p.m., but will have extended hours Saturday night, expecting an extra-nostalgic weekend crowd.



"It's always been here. It's always been a part of my life. Everybody's, like, family," said Taylor Connors, who has been skating at the rink for roughly 17 years.



"There's this one quote I really like," she added. " 'Don't be sad because it's really over, but smile because it happened.' I just have to keep reminding myself this was an awesome part of my life."