Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Deal.
Hi Chris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The journey started in 2015 trying to create a climbing gym in town, the timing was never right, between funding and enormous start-up costs, it was always put on the back burner. In 2018, I went back to school at NDSU for my MBA and decided that I was going to pursue the gym full-time while studying. Progress was made but ultimately was put on the back burner when I was convinced to pause that endeavor to work for Nature of the North and start up their climbing side of the business!
Worked with Nature of the North from 2019 to Fall 2021. In 2021, teamed up with my now business partner Ben Williams to bring a proper bouldering facility to the city, in late Fall/early Winter 2021 we secured a loan and started building Fargo Climbing. A huge part of that success was our friends in Lincoln NE opening up MW Climbing, they were able to build the walls themselves, and that lowered our start-up immensely, and we were able to afford to make a gym!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
2015 to 2019 had some major setbacks, mainly with funding, and the immense cost of a project like this. 2021 to today has been a rough road since we were young (in our 20s) trying to start a business and navigating the loan process without a lot of history or money, it was hard to get a lot of money, so we had to make sure all of our bases were covered.
Some highlights would be bringing the business up to code to be commercial (HVAC upgrade, parking studies, permits, materials being up to code, etc.) It seemed everywhere we saved money was matched by unexpected costs, in the end, we made it work. We optimistically thought we would be open by Christmas, and ended up opening end of March. Each month that passed was a month with zero income and a lot of expenses. Piled on top of random expenses like engineering, parking engineering, architecture, materials, etc. Since we opened we have been lucky to be cash flow positive from the beginning, but that doesn’t mean we were personally taking money from the gym at that point.
For most of the first year, my day started at Opp Construction where I worked 8 am to 1:30 pm, I would then drive to NDSU to teach a 1 credit climbing course from 2-3:15 pm, and then head to the gym to close 4 pm to 10:30 pm. Every Monday to Thursday, Fridays we would put up new courses and then rotate weekends, every other week switched up 9 am to 4 pm Friday and the weekend off, to 9 am to 10:30 pm and then 9:30 am to 8:30 pm Saturday, and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm Sunday. I am happy to say between all my jobs today I am below 70 hours!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One aspect of running the gym that I love is the marketing. I have been into climbing photography almost as long as I have been climbing.
About 10 years old, so my favorite part of the job is trying to capture what makes climbing fun and intriguing, but also what makes Fargo Climbing and the people here so special.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My family is from Georgia, so going to visit them each summer, staying on my grandparent’s farm, going to the beach, and fishing.
The farm had a private bass pond, so I got to fish that all summer, and then go to the beach and get to surf fish for sharks (did not catch all too many).
Pricing:
- $18 for a day pass w/ rental gear
- $60 / month for membership
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @FargoClimbing
- Facebook: FargoClimbing
- Youtube: FargoClimbing
Image Credits
Chris Deal
