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/@climbinggymgrowth

Follow 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/@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/