On the trials and tribulations of opening a climbing gym, how to follow your own dreams when there are naysayers, and what he has learned and changed on opening his second location.

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Summary of the episode with Daniel Luke:

Before the opening of their first gym in Atlanta, Daniel Luke of Stone Summit and his business partner, Daron Pair, attended a youth national event. Being frustrated by the layout and organization of the venue, Daniel Luke and Daron Pair decided it was up to them to build a better gym. Stone Summit Atlanta opened in July of 2010 and two weeks later was host to the USAC SCS youth national competition. Since then, Stone Summit Atlanta has hosted every SCS youth national. Its layout is built for competition viewing, but it has been amazingly successful within the Atlanta community despite warnings from industry insiders claiming that the gym was overreaching its limits and would never be successful.

This week, Daniel Luke of Stone Summit and Daron Pair will be opening their second location in Kennesaw, Ga. The gym has a greatly expanded bouldering terrain and an impressive wall design.

In this interview, Daniel Luke of Stone Summit Climbing Gyms talks about the trials and tribulations of opening a climbing gym, how to follow your own dreams when there are naysayers, and what he has learned and changed on opening his second location.

Show Notes for Daniel Luke:

• The costs of opening a climbing gym

• Frustrations with current gym designs were the inspiration behind opening Stone Summit

• What factored into picking the location

• The issue of funding a new climbing gym

• Understanding gym operation as a first-time gym owner

• The value of attending the Climbing Wall Association Summit and other industry conventions

• Stats on the second Stone Summit facility set to open this week

• What was learned by opening Atlanta and how those lessons were put into the design of the new gym

• The costs and benefits of hosting competitions and community-building events

• The biggest challenges faced when opening a new gym

• The growth of the climbing industry and the future of indoor climbing

Related Links and Sponsors for Daniel Luke:

•  Stone Summit Website

 

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