New gym rocks Lakewood’s social scene, with emphasis on family and togetherness
By Claudia Stadler
Plywood walls, chalk-covered hands and blasting indie rock music greet the visitor to a new gym in Lakewood, Ohio, that is offering a fresh experience for Clevelanders. Looking for a fun group activity on the West Side? You might want to spend your Saturday evening at the Nosotros Rock Climbing Gym.
Nosotros opened on Detroit Avenue on March 8 of this year. Owner Peter Stancato, a Lakewood resident himself, said he saw the need for a new kind of space when he realized that he and his wife were looking for a weekend activity that didn’t involve eating out or grabbing a beer in one of Lakewood’s many bars. His initial inspiration for a rock gym, however, occurred seven years prior, when he discovered a rock gym in Columbus.
Having been the plus-one at a wedding where he knew no one, Stancato was invited out of politeness to the groom’s pre-wedding climbing hangout with his groomsmen. Although apprehensive about getting along with this group of men he had just met, he went. In terms of friendship and bonding he said, “This was the opposite of anything I’ve ever seen.” The ability of rock climbing to bring people together impressed him, so much so that he went home and wrote a 50-page business plan for bringing a rock gym to his own community.
Seven years later, the basement of Lakewood Baptist Church has been transformed into a bouldering gym, complete with 14-foot walls, thick crash pads for falling into and a climbing “cave,” where one can climb from wall to wall and even onto the ceiling. Nosotros is now the only rock-climbing gym in Lakewood, providing a new place for West Siders looking to add variation to their workouts.
Stancato says he’s done the research, and that bouldering — which just means climbing shorter heights with no harness support — is becoming more popular than top rope climbing with a harness. It seems that people find it more fun, independent and less intimidating in terms of heights.
What’s different about Nosotros from other Cleveland rock climbing gyms, such as Climb Cleveland or the Cleveland Rock Gym? For starters, the pricing at Nosotros is significantly lower than their competitors, with a 10-visit pass priced at $89. The same 10 visits would cost you $130 at the Cleveland Rock Gym in Euclid. At Climb Cleveland in Tremont, a day pass is $14, while Nosotros charges $11.99 for the day. Nosotros also offers a significant discount for climbers who show up within the hour before closing, so as not to charge them for a full day when they are only climbing for an hour.
Why the emphasis on affordability? The name itself sums it up: Meaning Spanish for “we,” Nosotros was created with the mission of bringing people together, whether that be families wanting quality time, couples looking for a new alternative to date night or friends needing a bonding experience.
Stancato said there is a certain camaraderie involved in rock climbing that no other sport offers, and he wants that to be accessible to all, regardless of their budget.
“Our vision is relationships, our mission is families, and our 2018 goal is to provide 100 date nights to Lakewood and the Greater Cleveland couples.”
Along with its emphasis on togetherness and accessibility, Nosotros is actually registered as a nonprofit gym, meaning that a portion of their profits will go back into the community of Lakewood.
If you have zero climbing experience, no need to worry. Stancato considers himself no climbing expert in the practice, saying that “everybody that comes in puts me to shame.”
Newcomers to the gym are greeted with a quick tour of the facilities and a couple of tips on where to begin. Henry Proctor IV said in a review of the rock gym on Facebook, “I’ve never rock climbed before and this has different levels for beginners and experts. Fresh new spot on the West Side for all ages.”
Nosotros also offers $49 climbing lessons for beginners or those looking to improve their technique.
Although the gym is getting positive community feedback now, with a cumulative five star review on their Facebook page from their 40 reviewers, the path to establishment was not so simple for the Stancato family.
“For seven years, I lived like dirt” explains Stancato, highlighting the how difficult it was for him to save enough money to start the gym. Considering the student debt that both he and his wife had racked up, he didn’t want to increase that number. Saving money by sacrificing restaurant outings, traveling and other luxury expenses, he saved up enough money within seven years to pursue his rock gym. While the average rock gym usually requires around $500,000 to start up, Stancato explained that he managed it with only $40,000.
Future plans for Nosotros, as it develops, involve Stancato eventually quitting his current full-time job, growing out of the space they’re in now, and ideally, franchising the nonprofit.
Considering the plethora of Lakewood bars and restaurants, the addition of this unique social opportunity may or may not shake things up on the West Side of Cleveland. As Nosotros is open until 10 p.m. on weeknights and 12 a.m. on weekends, it provides anything from late-night Friday dates to Sunday morning children’s birthday parties. Will Nosotros rock the city of Lakewood with its unique combination of fitness, togetherness and community? That remains to be seen.
