Climb NORA
Federal Way, Washington
Specs: Climb NORA, a bouldering-focused gym, opened this December in Federal Way, Washington, a suburb just north of Tacoma. According to co-founder Louis Brion, in Korean “NOHLA means play,” and NORA is the name of the gym’s mascot, a cat. “NORA (노라) is usually the romanization of NOHLA (놀아),” he added, describing the naming of the gym as a pun of sorts in Korean, which is fitting because part of the Climb NORA founding team is Korean. Additionally, Brion continued, “There is a vibrant Korean community and a large minority population in Federal Way that is yearning for a physical outlet.”
Brion told CBJ, “There is no time like the present” for opening a climbing gym. “Aside from the meticulous planning and market analysis that we did,” he said the group was lucky to find a “perfect location for a gym and had the team to get the project going.” The grand opening event is taking place sometime in the new year, and the owners have crafted the space “for first timers and lifelong climbers” alike, the website states. The gym was founded by a group of Pacific Northwest locals who met through climbing together, including one who grew up in Federal Way. The founders have different reasons for opening the gym, from creating “a third space in the place where they grew up, being able to express themselves creatively in the climbing industry, to expanding climbing access to marginalized communities,” Brion explained, adding that, while “Washington is known for their breathtaking mountains and outdoor culture,” there previously was not a commercial climbing gym between the Seattle area and Tacoma.
Climb NORA was constructed in an 11,950-square-foot former flooring showroom with high ceilings that required little demolition. Brion felt the building was ideal because it is located across from a school, with plenty of car traffic passing by, and has ample parking. The gym features 4,050 square feet of climbing on walls reaching 16 feet, including a Kilter Board and Tension Board 2, in addition to a fitness area. There is also the potential for external saunas and cold plunges to be built in the overflow parking lot, depending on demand.
To lower the economic barrier to entry “for those that don’t know if they want to commit monthly,” Brion said the gym is “experimenting with weekly memberships,” instead of the monthly system many climbing gyms use. One of those weekly memberships provides access to only the fitness area and common spaces for $10 per week and comes with a free intro to bouldering class, in case some gym goers want to give the sport a try. Climb NORA is also planning to partner with local organizations to offer subsidized memberships, day passes, equipment and gym access, as part of their goal of running an equitable climbing gym.
Walls: Maverick Climbing
Flooring: Flashed
CRM Software: Approach
Website: www.climbnora.com
Instagram: @Climb_NORA
In Their Words: “Lots of people are interested in opening gyms, so make sure you’re plugged into your local climbing community, so you don’t open a gym right next to one that’s opening and eat each other up.” – Louis Brion, Co-Founder of Climb NORA
