Demolition began Tuesday on the burned-out remnants of the Olympic Fun Center in Hermitage, said owner Dawn Smith.

Now that Mrs. Smith and her husband, Joseph, have completed negotiations with their insurance company, work should progress quickly to build a new roller rink, she said.

"Basically, we're demolishing everything and we're putting a brand new facility up," she said.

The new building will be 120 feet wide and 275 feet long, about 25 feet longer than the previous building, said the Youngstown resident. The extra space will provide an area for laser tag.

The center at 4070 E. State St. was destroyed July 16 in an accidental fire caused by an electrical problem, firefighters said.

Children mourned the loss of the young people's hangout, and Mrs. Smith said she has been asked many times by former customers when they planned to rebuild.

"I felt very bad for the community," she said. "I've had kids coming up to me and they were crying. It's very important for the kids to have something to do."

Mrs. Smith, who bought the business in 1998 with her husband, said she believes the center could be reopened by March.

She promised the new center will be a "safe, family-oriented environment."