Climbing Gym Growth Podcast

By Chris Lopez

The Climbing Gym Growth Podcast shares real stories from climbing gym owners and operators. Each week, host Chris Lopez tracks down gym owners to learn how they attract new climbers, keep members enga... more

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FAQs about Climbing Gym Growth Podcast:

How many episodes does Climbing Gym Growth Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 10 episodes available.

Climbing Gym Growth Podcast episodes:

August 06, 2026 Why Owning a Climbing Gym Is Harder Than Ever
Andrew Coffey returns to the podcast to talk about where The Hive is today, nearly 15 years after opening his first gym.
We dive into The Hive's current renovation, how competition has changed over the past decade, why market research has become essential, and what Andrew believes the next five years look like for climbing gyms.
Whether you're opening your first gym or operating multiple locations, this episode is packed with practical lessons on design, marketing, retention, and long-term sustainability.
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Chapters:
01:26 - Renovating The Hive's North Shore location
12:57 - Gathering community feedback before a renovation
16:35 - Training areas, boards & fitness space decisions
18:31 - The cost of closing a gym for renovations
22:16 - Lessons from designing climbing gyms for 15 years
29:55 - How competition has changed over the past decade
34:32 - Building new climbers instead of competing for existing ones
35:18 - Simplifying vs. expanding as a business
38:05 - Market research that changed The Hive's marketing strategy
41:53 - Measuring marketing ROI
44:32 - What happens after someone's first visit?
49:07 - Inflation, rising costs & pricing challenges
53:44 - Predictions for the next five years of climbing gyms
59:22 - Why profitability matters more than ever
01:02:17 - Hiring, leadership & building a great team
01:06:18 - Finding the "one thing" that moves the business forward
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

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1h 9min
January 31, 2026 If You Pick the Wrong Market, It Won’t Work
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, Chris Lopez chats with Ivan Vargas and Steve Bittner, co-owners of Mustangs Bouldering, for a conversation about market selection, risk, and how to break even.
Mustangs opened without SBA loans, without heavy marketing, and in a smaller market by making disciplined decisions around location, rent, and other expenses.
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Show Notes:
00:00 – Intro
04:00 – Backgrounds in climbing and the industry
07:30 – Searching for the right space
10:30 – Why Mustangs chose bouldering only
14:30 – Competition myths in smaller markets
18:30 – Organic growth vs paid marketing
23:30 – Route setting philosophy and surprise
27:30 – Churn, seasonality, and outdoorsy markets
35:30 – Designing for early break-even
41:30 – Building the gym themselves to survive
48:30 – The mental weight of ownership
56:30 – Hard advice: markets matter
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
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1h 3min
January 08, 2026 The Long Game: Wisdom From 10+ Years of Climbing Gym Growth
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Aaron Parlier, owner of Center 45 in Boone, North Carolina.
Aaron shares a grounded, long-term perspective on what actually makes a climbing gym successful. Not rapid expansion, flashy amenities, or forcing your gym into a predefined box, but focusing on community, routesetting, and creating a space people genuinely want to spend time in.
We talk about slow, sustainable growth, why your climbs are the product, and how first impressions at the front desk shape everything that follows.
This episode is especially valuable for new gym owners and operators in small or college towns.
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Show Notes:
00:00 – Aaron’s climbing background & early influences
03:00 – Discovering indoor climbing & falling all the way in
06:00 – Opening Center 45 with limited resources
08:30 – Crowdfunding holds & growing within constraints
11:00 – Capacity issues, weather, and space limitations
14:30 – Partnering with the university climbing wall
16:00 – Making the gym feel welcoming to new climbers
18:30 – Why intimidation kills the first-time experience
21:00 – Front desk energy & first impressions
22:10 – Final advice: slow growth & “it's about the bread”
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth
Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
...more
25min
December 18, 2025From One Small Bouldering Gym to Six Locations
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Coffey, founder of The Hive Climbing in British Columbia.
From opening one of Canada’s first bouldering only gyms in 2012 to now running six locations, Andrew breaks down the lessons, systems, and philosophy behind The Hive’s growth.
We talk about:
Expanding before systems were ready
The realities of scaling past 150 employees
The cost of building gyms today
How COVID reshaped their entire business
Why “Make Life Better” became their company mission
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Show Notes:
00:00 – Andrew’s backstory & discovering climbing
07:00 – Opening The Hive’s first gym & early lessons
15:00 – Expanding to multiple locations & unexpected challenges
23:00 – COVID, booking systems & changing member habits
30:00 – Profitability, pricing, and rising operational costs
38:00 – Managing 150+ employees & scaling culture
48:00 – Systems, structure & Wildly Important Goals
56:00 – Advice for new gym owners & sustainable growth
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth
Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
...more
1h 6min
December 04, 2025 Inside Uplift Climbing: Community, Conversion & Retention Strategies
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I chat with Andrew Hou from Uplift Climbing in Shoreline, Washington.
We dive into what it really takes to build a community first climbing gym in a competitive market. Andrew shares how he spent years preparing for ownership, why Uplift doubled down on overhanging terrain, how they differentiate themselves from other Seattle gyms, and why focusing on health over growth is core to their mission.
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Show Notes:
00:00 – Introduction
00:10 – Intro class & free week membership experiment
00:20 – Referral strategy that drives long-term growth
00:30 – Working on vs. working in the business
00:37 – Newsletters & building relational marketing
00:43 – Differentiation in a saturated market
00:54 – Andrew’s advice for new gym owners
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
...more
56min
November 20, 2025 A Plan Is a Place to Deviate From
What does it really take to open a climbing gym from scratch?
In this episode, I talk with Parker Sims, founder of Gravity Bear Climbing in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We dive into how Parker identified a market gap, managed construction while holding a full-time job, and why he thinks climbing gyms are undervalued.
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Show Notes:
00:00 – Parker’s story & Tulsa’s climbing scene
05:00 – Opening Gravity Bear & early surprises
09:00 – The meaning behind “Gravity Bear”
12:00 – Learning flexibility through setbacks
30:00 – Membership goals & community building
45:00 – Why climbing gyms are undervalued
53:00 – “A plan is a place to deviate from.”
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
...more
56min
November 13, 2025 Building a Modern Climbing Gym in Portland, OR
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Chris Marsaglia, co-founder of Tomo Bouldering Club in Portland, Oregon.
We dive into what it takes to open a new gym in a saturated market, how Tomo’s founders built a brand that balances playfulness and professionalism, and the philosophy behind their unique “T” circuit grading system. Chris also shares how they built a loyal community through thoughtful design, creative events, and an authentic approach to marketing.
Show Notes:
00:00 – Welcome to Tomo Bouldering Club
02:15 – From kitchen table planning to opening day
05:00 – Permitting delays and opening surprises
07:30 – Marketing in a crowded Portland market
09:30 – Authentic branding
12:25 – Hitting 300 members
15:00 – Competing with nearby gyms
23:00 – Tomo’s “T” circuit system
31:00 – Retention and member engagement
33:00 – Future goals
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth
Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
...more
37min
October 23, 2025 Climbing Gym Management Lessons from Alaska Rock Gym
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I talk with Nicole Jolyn, General Manager of Alaska Rock Gym, about her first year leading one of the most established climbing gyms in the U.S.
Nicole shares what she’s learned - from refining staff roles and marketing systems to strengthening programming and community connection in Anchorage’s unique climbing scene.
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Show Notes:00:00 – Nicole’s path from Colorado to Alaska Rock Gym
02:00 – Overview of Alaska Rock Gym’s size, growth, and unique market
05:00 – Building a management team and defining clear roles
10:00 – Creating new positions to support staff growth and culture
15:00 – Marketing strategy: old school mailers and tracking ROI
22:00 – How to measuring social media impact
32:00 – Programming changes and rebuilding weekend engagement
39:00 – Reducing churn through connection, accountability, and culture
53:00 – Final advice: build real relationships with your members
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Listen to the full podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0T41CYU1Eo1zJewskFklsB
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/climbing-gym-growth-podcast/id1835576139
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth
...more
55min
October 09, 2025 Building A Growth-Oriented Climbing Gym Culture
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I talk with Jonathan Brandt of Shift Climbing about how they’ve built a growth-oriented gym culture and how their competitive advantage is based on the concept of Enlightened Hospitality.
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Show Notes:
00:00 – Jonathan’s path from climber to gym founder
02:00 – Launching Shift Climbing & early challenges
05:00 – Using content to build brand & buzz
10:00 – Lessons from opening week
17:00 – Hiring through culture-first systems
23:00 – Enlightened hospitality in action
28:00 – Building a growth-oriented team
33:00 – Authentic sales & member connection
39:00 – Circuits, education, and community
47:00 – Redefining success at Shift Climbing
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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth
Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
...more
53min
August 26, 2025 From 30 Local Climbers to 300 Members in 2 Years
In this episode of the Climbing Gym Growth Podcast, I sit down with Jesse Cheers and Brad Mathisen from Appalachian Bouldering Center in Bristol, TN.
We talk about how they went from just 30 local climbers in their community to building a climbing gym with over 300 members in just 2 years. From overcoming construction hurdles to building a welcoming culture, this is a must-watch for anyone interested in learning how climbing gyms grow and succeed.
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Show Notes:
00:00 – ABC’s origin story
04:20 – Why bouldering + connecting to outdoor climbing
07:30 – Build-out challenges & contractor lessons
15:00 – Opening day: 200+ visitors & early growth
23:20 – Community, culture & no gatekeeping
31:20 – Key advice for new gym owners
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Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/3IZPwBFV6-8
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth
Or check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/
...more
39min

FAQs about Climbing Gym Growth Podcast:

How many episodes does Climbing Gym Growth Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 10 episodes available.