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.

_

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

_

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

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.

_

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”

_

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

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

_

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

_

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

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.

_

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

_

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

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.

_

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.”

_
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

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/

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.

_

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

_

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

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.

_

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

_

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/

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.

_

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

_

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/3IZPwBFV6-8

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

Or check us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/