Indoor Rock Climbing Coming to Lakewood?

It looks as if another business, launched with support of the Startup Lakewood program, is getting off the ground.

You could say it’s climbing some obstacles to get there.

Entrepreneurs are looking to build the West Side’s “premier rock climbing facility” in a venture called Lakewood Rock Gym.

Kevin Phipps and Jim Ceccatti, the entrepreneurs behind the concept, recently pitched their idea to a panel of judges for the Startup Lakewood Ideation Challenge.

The venture didn’t win the top prize, but the concept is still moving forward.

Phipps and Ceccatti are hosting a focus group at the University of Akron Lakewood from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Dec. 11 to further explore the idea.

“It’s open to anyone who would like to see a rock climbing facility here in Lakewood,” said Phipps.

The city of Lakewood has taken notice.

“(Lakewood Rock Gym) received high marks as a viable business model for Lakewood,” said Bryce Sylvester, from the city’s department of planning and development, in a statement. 

“We are holding the focus group to find out from climbers and climbing advocates what they would want in a rock gym, and to better understand the market in and around Lakewood.”