gym

[Saxman]

I am serious about getting a gym up and running. Sitting around with a busted ankle has a great way of focusing one's interests. Anyone who is seriously interested in paying some money up front please pm me. Those who can only pay month to month will have to be considered after the amount of up front money is established. I will only feel safe signing a lease with a considerable amount (if not all) of the year's lease in hand. I can see people excited now but the money thinning in the spring, summer, and fall leaving the lease signer(s) screwed. I think there are enough interested people in Lexington to keep a gym vibrant and self sustaining.

[pigsteak]

saxman...if you are the entrepreneur, will you split any profits with those of us who front you money?

[pigsteak]

www.upperlimits.com

two commercial gyms built by a climber, run by a climber, and highly successful by all definitions of the word. the owner lives in Arkansas, and both gyms are run by managers. this is what we are contemplating bringing to Lexington.

(yes, a highly commercial gym. the goal is to make a living off of it, not just support climbing bums who want a cheap bouldering session. if that is what folks want in Lexington ...a cheap session I mean.... then that is what we should build...a co-op of sorts.)

[Wes]

Commercial gym is cool with me, as long as they have good rates and killer bouldering, would be best of the bouldering was seperate from the tr routes, so when there are parties and stuff, there isn't as much overlap.

While, I love the idea of a co-op, I think it is one of those things that sounds better on paper. A true commercial gym where someone takes the risk, and hopefully makes money sounds like a better idea to me. Just really good bouldering, please!

[SikMonkey]

When considering taking risks, you have to remember an old proverb brought to us from the Tibetan mountains by a very wise and powerful man:

You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away, know when to run.

Mj

[Zspider]

While, I love the idea of a co-op, I think it is one of those things that sounds better on paper. A true commercial gym where someone takes the risk, and hopefully makes money sounds like a better idea to me. Just really good bouldering, please!

Yup. I agree. A commercial gym is much more preferable. A co-op would only bring grief.

ZSpider

[pigsteak]

again, any leads on a sweet building, and this thing could be a reality. just PM me with any potential leads, and I'll take it from there.

PS- anyone been to the Spot in Boulder? we'll be having at least one boulder like the free standing ones they have. we have the financing lined up...we now need a building with affordable rent. this always seems to be the sticky part.

[longlegsrule]

PS- anyone been to the Spot in Boulder?

yeah and they are very limited on setting on those boulders...holes can only go so many places on a rounded surface...and the rest of the texture of the 'boulder' is slick as a baby's butt...

[Saxman]

Why does a gym have to be commercial/for profit? I want the gym to be successful enough to thrive, ie. continue to grow and add amenities. I will be making my living as a pharmacist, not from a gym. If the majority want a commerical gym, then that is fine, but I think not having to worry about making enough profit to support a family will allow the gym to be more successful, not less. I was going to wait until I graduated to run with this idea, but I think there is enough interest and people who have a lot of drive to make a non profit gym work. The gym will still run and operate as a business, but no one will earn money from the enterprise, kind of like Paul Newman's food companies. Whether it is private or open to the public would be determined by the membership.

[kato]

maximum $3,500 monthly rent

I think it will be tough to survive with rent this high. If you are serious about this and would like to talk to someone who has run all financial aspects of a climbing gym for the last five years, pm me.