Long-Planned Harlem Climbing Gym, 'The Cliffs,' To Open On 125th

HARLEM, NY — A cavernous climbing gym whose arrival in Central Harlem has been in the works for years will finally open its doors Saturday on 125th Street.

The Cliffs, which has three other locations in Long Island City, Westchester and DUMBO, first announced plans in 2017 to open a 15,000-square-foot climbing gym in Central Harlem.

Owners had completed construction by 2018, but struggled for months to get the proper permits. The coronavirus pandemic pushed the opening back even further, a spokesperson said.

Now, though, The Cliffs at Harlem is ready to welcome visitors to 256 West 125th St., right across from the Apollo Theater. It will be New York City's largest bouldering gym.

"We are excited to bring this amenity to Harlem and be an active part of the community," founder Mike Wolfert said in a statement.

The Cliffs is keen on building a gym that feels accessible to Harlem residents, spokesperson Sharon Cooper said. To that end, the facility will offer discounted community scholarships, youth outreach programs partnering with nearby schools and nonprofits, and free one-day climbing passes to residents of the Harlem ZIP codes 10026, 10027, 10029 and 10035.

The facility's general manager and assistant manager are both Harlem residents, Cooper added, saying The Cliffs made an effort to hire from within the neighborhood.

The Cliffs at Harlem will be open to members and guests starting Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

It boasts state-of-the-art climbing equipment, including campus boards, a tension boards, cardio and strength training equipment, yoga classes, locker rooms with showers and a gear shop.

Mebership, day passes, youth programming and rental equipment will all be available, the facility says. Regular classes will be offered for all experience levels.

The facility maintains COVID-19 safety rules — an easy task, management says, because "rock climbing is innately a socially distanced sport."

Another Cliffs location is coming to Gowanus, Brooklyn later this year.