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New climbing gym in Denver

Original Post
Mark Wyss · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 255

So I was out the other night with a friend of mine and he told me he is interested in investing in a new business. I know there is another thread on this but I was thinking this might be a great opportunity to build a new gym in Denver.

The money is there to get something really good going but neither of us have ever worked at a gym before. We would of course need a partner to work with us who has plenty of experience in this area.

Lots needs to be thought through. Location, parking, permits, sponsors, eqipment, memberships, square footage, etc.

This is a project and something that can happen, and if given the right advice can be the best gym in the area. Like I said the funds are there to build it.

If you live in the area and are interested in making something new happen in Denver or have some other helpful advice, let me know. PM or post away.

Thanks in advance to everyone in the MP world!

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

1st rule of real estate: location location location.
In my opinion, the site should be (sorry Allen Hill, not downtown) located in the SW quadrant of the metro area, near C470 and Santa Fe. There are industrial parcels there, thus being able to permit a 40'-50' building. In addition, you'd be able to market to all the youth of Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and the Columbine valley, and be accessible (via C-470) from Golden.
Also, look into the cost-benefit differences between a steel structure and a tilt-up building to get maximum height.

JJNS · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 531

There is a large brick building being renovated on south broadway near the Mayan Theater. I was hoping it might be something cool, maybe a climbing gym. The word is its going to be a bowling alley. A bowling alley? Really? People still do that? I know a lot of people who rock climb. I don't know of anyone that bowls. I think it is a great idea and there is most certainly a market for it. We do have a lot of outdoor climbing but there is alway a market for indoor walls and training facilities. I have also heard that the spot is going to build a downtown denver gym and from the Good Life article it sounds like the Movement people are interested. It would be awesome if all the parties interested collaborated to put out the best product possible. It would suck if everyone raced through the construction and design process in an attempt to be the first gym in DTD. We don't need three separate mediocre gyms if we have one good one.

Kevin Landolt · · Fort Collins, Wyoming · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 585

I know quite a few climbers who bowl.

JJNS · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 531
Kevin Landolt wrote:I know quite a few climbers who bowl.
Really? They own their own ball and shoes?
Rob WardenSpaceLizard · · las Vegans, the cosmic void · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 130

I have worked for a couple gyms and organized lots of events, if its possible i would get onboard full time with this venture.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

PM me when you get to design stages, I can give you an estimate for a design/build plumbing and hvac contract.

Tom R · · Denver, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 140
JJNS wrote: Really? They own their own ball and shoes?
I do.
Jon C. Sullivan · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 30

I am in the process of finding property in the Denver Metro area for New Generation Climbing. We have a developed business plan and are a little ways out from completing our web page which provides a wealth of information regarding our mission statement for the facility and organization itself. There are currently only two of us seeking funding and so far we have a descent start up amount. We are totally open to joining up with one or two more people and going in on this together. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at newgenerationclimbing@gmail.com or jon@newgenerationclimbing.org (it would be helpful if you just did both!)
This is pretty exciting stuff!
Cheers,
Jon

JJNS · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 531
Tom R wrote: I do.
Ok. Thats cool. I wasn't trying to put down bowling or knock the people that enjoy it. I was just hoping for a climbing gym.
Kevin Craig · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 325
Mike Lane wrote:1st rule of real estate: location location location. In my opinion, the site should be (sorry Allen Hill, not downtown) located in the SW quadrant of the metro area, near C470 and Santa Fe. There are industrial parcels there, thus being able to permit a 40'-50' building. In addition, you'd be able to market to all the youth of Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and the Columbine valley, and be accessible (via C-470) from Golden. Also, look into the cost-benefit differences between a steel structure and a tilt-up building to get maximum height.
And this would've near your house Mike? The area you suggest is waaay to close to R&J2 and would pull from the same base. What's needed is something in the west-central metro area- Golden, Arvada etc. R&J1 and any of the Boulder gyms are at least 45min - 1 hour from this area with traffic (whereas C470/Sante Fe is what? 15-20 minutes, tops, from R&J2?). Yes, the area i suggest IS near MY house, but at least there's objective support for locating there. Also getting to your location from Golden/Arvada is a frikkin nightmare after work on 470, so it wouldn't draw from there either.
Colin Simon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 370

Slightly unrelated, but San Jose, CA is ripe for a new gym. The Sunnyvale Planet Granite is horribly overcrowded. The company can get away with being horrible to customers because there's no competition.

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115

It does seem a little strange that there is no gym near Golden and that section of west Denver, considering the number of climbers around there.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880
Kevin Craig wrote: And this would've near your house Mike? The area you suggest is waaay to close to R&J2 and would pull from the same base. What's needed is something in the west-central metro area- Golden, Arvada etc. R&J1 and any of the Boulder gyms are at least 45min - 1 hour from this area with traffic (whereas C470/Sante Fe is what? 15-20 minutes, tops, from R&J2?). Yes, the area i suggest IS near MY house, but at least there's objective support for locating there. Also getting to your location from Golden/Arvada is a frikkin nightmare after work on 470, so it wouldn't draw from there either.
Can't you get to the plethora of Boulder gyms from Golden/Arvada in about 20 minutes?
RJ2 draws from Parker and Cherry Creek kids mostly. I'm about 5 miles away from it and it still takes me up to a 1/2 hour to get there thanks to the nightmare that is Arapahoe Road. The location I propose has a huge under 18 population that Arvada and Golden do not. Arvada and Golden are essentially retirement zones, lots of folks collecting dust in their houses around there. I forgot to add the draw populations of Castle Rock (The Meadows) and Roxborough. And probably most important, with my location there are vacant parcels zoned for industrial use where you could actually pull a permit for a tall building. The only area in your zone would be Denver West, and with all the NREL work going on makes land values outrageous.
Plus, I'm 51 with numerous joint issues, gyms aren't my thing anymore so I don't care about its location in personal terms.
Tom R · · Denver, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 140
muttonface wrote:I see a golden opportunity to appeal to a small market of bowling rock climbers.
Throw in roller skating and a snack bar and you have kids' birthday party hell!
Evan S · · Denver, Co · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 510

I never climb in the gyms in Denver, but are they currently over crowded? Do you know lots of people who have to drive up to Boulder frequently to climb? It would seem like a no-brainer that the metro area could use more gyms, but things aren't always what they seem. I would hate to see a beautiful, large new gym open and have to close in the same year. Just make sure there is really a market to support whatever size facility you're planning, obviously.

Anna Floyd · · Golden, CO · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 10

I second the votes for Golden/west Denver. I used to live in Golden, and it took us 40 minutes to get to RJ1, and 40 minutes to get to the Boulder gyms. Keep in mind, most people climb after work, when it's rush hour (in response to the comment posted about it only taking 20 minutes to get to Boulder from Golden). Oh, and it took about 45-50 minutes for us to get to RJ2.

Of course, you should do some real marketing research here, but it seems like the Golden area would be great. Maybe even something between Golden/Littleton. Golden isn't just retired people. School of Mines brings in a good number of 18-24 year olds.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

Not really trying to argue, but with Arvada/Golden you have North Table and CCC and even Morrison for after work 3/4ths of the year.

I personally think developing a roller derby rink/training center would be more profitable and a lot more fun. That sport is on the verge of blowing up huge now that they're starting kiddie and teen leagues.

Monty · · Golden, CO · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 3,520

Ya gonna have to say the Golden/ Lakewood area too. If you could find something around the Mills you have a HUGE market between Lakewood, Arvada, Golden and Littleton. Real Estate could be tricky though.

Mark Wyss · · Denver, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 255

I know the traffic on 25 is a pain pretty much all day long, but after reading a few posts, I am thinking about a gym in the 6th/Colfax ave and I-25 vicinity.

Easy commute for the Golden climbers, Easy to find an alternate route to the gym if there is an accident on 25. It will be close to downtown and CU Denver/Metro. Not terribly far from DU or Regis. There is a light rail station close as well.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880
Mark Wyss wrote:I know the traffic on 25 is a pain pretty much all day long, but after reading a few posts, I am thinking about a gym in the 6th/Colfax ave and I-25 vicinity. Easy commute for the Golden climbers, Easy to find an alternate route to the gym if there is an accident on 25. It will be close to downtown and CU Denver/Metro. Not terribly far from DU or Regis. There is a light rail station close as well.
Thats interesting. I used to work for Broomhall Brothers at 13th and Umatilla. I google mapped that part of town, and there are some parcels around there to work with. There's a junkyard right there, and more land north and east a little. Looks like inexpensive land too. Access for there via I25 is from the 8th Ave exit, central Denver from 13th Ave. Its not as bad to get there as first glance might imply.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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