Climbing Gym Growth Podcast

Building a climbing gym is a lot more complicated than putting climbing walls inside a building.In this episode, I'm joined by Tim Derrington of Derrington Building Studio, an architect who has worked on six climbing gym designs, including projects for Crux Climbing Center.We discuss the hidden challenges of designing and building climbing gyms, from unexpected construction costs and complicated mechanical systems to creating spaces that people actually want to spend time in.Tim shares practical advice on avoiding expensive construction mistakes, deciding where to save money, and designing gyms that reflect their brand and improve the member experience. We also explore how climbing gym design has evolved and what the next generation of climbing gyms might look like.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction01:06 – Tim's background in climbing gym architecture03:24 – Unexpected construction challenges06:55 – How climbing gym design has evolved08:50 – How architecture shapes a gym's brand12:00 – Designing a gym that stands out from competitors15:38 – Lessons from other industries16:30 – Creating spaces where people want to spend time20:23 – The biggest mistakes when opening a climbing gym22:19 – Where to cut 20% from your construction budget24:49 – The hidden complexity of building climbing gyms26:52 – HVAC, chalk filtration, and facility maintenance32:35 – What an architect notices when entering a climbing gym35:19 – Designing better flow and member experiences40:23 – The future of climbing gym design44:22 – Three design decisions every gym owner should get rightConnect with Tim:Website: https://derrington.coInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/derrington.building.studio/Follow Climbing Gym Growth:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

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._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_Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowthFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowth

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/@climbinggymgrowthFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowthCheck 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/@climbinggymgrowthFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowthCheck 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 readyThe realities of scaling past 150 employeesThe cost of building gyms todayHow COVID reshaped their entire businessWhy “Make Life Better” became their company mission_Show Notes:00:00 – Andrew’s backstory & discovering climbing07:00 – Opening The Hive’s first gym & early lessons15:00 – Expanding to multiple locations & unexpected challenges23:00 – COVID, booking systems & changing member habits30:00 – Profitability, pricing, and rising operational costs38:00 – Managing 150+ employees & scaling culture48:00 – Systems, structure & Wildly Important Goals56:00 – Advice for new gym owners & sustainable growth_Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@climbinggymgrowthFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbinggymgrowthCheck us out at: https://climbinggymgrowth.com/