Last week, the Midwest climbing gym chain Vertical Endeavors—which operates six gyms across Minnesota and Illinois—announced it had been acquired on Friday, September 4. Previously owned by Nate and Pam Postma, who founded the business 34 years ago, Vertical Endeavors is now owned by Adam Arling and Brent Sugay.
According to Vertical Endeavors’ press release, Arling and Sugay are “husbands, business partners, and longtime members of the climbing community” who have “experience in business leadership, finance, management consulting, and technology.” The two climbers also bring “a personal connection to Vertical Endeavors”—Sugay discovered Vertical Endeavors in 2010 and, “in 2015, Sugay brought Arling to the St. Paul gym on one of their early dates,” per the release.
“Vertical Endeavors shaped who we are as climbers and as people,” Arling said in the announcement. “It inspired us to travel coast to coast, challenge our fears, test our character, and, most importantly, find an incredible community of friends.” Sugay added, “As members of the climbing community, we want to protect what makes these gyms unique while creating even more opportunities for people to find their place here.”
When Pam and Nate opened the first Vertical Endeavors location in 1992—a full-service facility in St. Paul, Minnesota—it was one of the earliest climbing gyms in the country. Based on CBJ’s gym and wall map data, there were fewer than 30 commercial facilities in existence around the U.S. (compared to over 700 at the time of this writing). In 2026, the business also runs roped gyms in Minneapolis, Duluth, Bloomington (MN) and Glendale Heights (IL), in addition to a bouldering-focused gym in St. Paul. The Glendale Heights location was the largest climbing gym in the U.S. when it first opened in 2014, in terms of square feet of climbing, and today it’s the second-largest facility in the country.
“We are thrilled to announce that Adam Arling and Brent Sugay will be stepping in as the new leadership and owners of Vertical Endeavors,” Pam and Nate said in a social media post. “We have absolute confidence in Adam and Brent. They deeply understand our mission, our core values, and possess the vision and energy to lead this company into the next chapter.”
Going forward, the press release indicated the new ownership team is making continuity a priority during the transition and eventually hopes to “invest in the facilities, programming, and member experience while preserving the community-centered culture” at Vertical Endeavors. In the months ahead, Sugay and Arling “plan to spend time listening and engaging with staff, members, and the broader climbing community” to inform those future investments.
“Thirty-four years is an incredible legacy to inherit,” Arling stated. “We have a lot to learn from the people who built this community and the people who have been part of it along the way. We’re excited to listen, learn, and earn the opportunity to write the next chapter together.”
As for Nicros, Vertical Endeavors’ sister company—which was established in tandem in 1992 and supplies holds, walls, flooring, the ABSS and other equipment—Pam told CBJ that she and Nate still own the brand at the moment and eventually “do plan to sell this company as well and fully retire.”
Nate and Pam’s farewell letter following last week’s announcement can be read here.
