Touchstone Climbing’s transformation of a supermarket into a climbing gym named Aisle 19 is nearing completion.
The team behind the fitness center hosted an open house on Sept. 24 to give the community a sneak peek into the nearly complete facility before its tentative opening in 2027.
“I didn't think it would come close to looking like this, but it also makes me feel somewhat proud to know that we're actually enhancing the community rather than doing something mundane or cookie cutter,” Touchstone Climbing board of directors member Kurt Mayrand said.
Plans to transform the former Pacific Super supermarket on Alemany Boulevard were first shared in 2024 when the San Francisco-based rock climbing gym chain hosted a first community meeting in July.
The three-hour open house allowed attendees to walk around the premises on a self-guided tour and ask general manager Phu Tran and staff questions. The team also handed out branded T-shirts and stickers.
The 27,764-square-foot space features bright geometrical bouldering walls designed by Walltopia. The training boards used on these walls consist of kilter, touchstone or hangboards and sit as high as 17 feet.
Beyond bouldering walls, the space will feature a weight room, yoga studio, men's and women’s saunas and a program room for high-intensity training classes.
“We don't want to just be a climbing gym,” Touchstone Climbing architect Emma Kim said. “We want to be a neighborhood fitness center.”
Touchstone Climbing representatives said they want to maintain the original spirit of the building rather than turning the structure into an over-modernized space.
Tran, who echoed a similar message, added that he is a big supporter of youth programming and wants to bring clubs, camps and competition teams to the location.
“They repurpose everything; that’s what Touchstone has always done,” Tran, whose daughter grew up using the chain’s facilities, said. “In general, I think for me as a manager, it’s [about] the outreach in the community, to try to bring in underserved, marginalized communities and give them a place that they can have fun and find joy.”
The new gym has already piqued the interest of Crocker-Amazon resident Tanya Yeu, who frequents Touchstone Climbing’s Dogpatch location.
“It's close by and I mean, it looks pretty cool,” Yeu said. “I like Touchstone gyms.”
Spencer Thurman, who lives in the Lower Haight, and Erin Acharya, who lives in Pacifica and whose family attends one of the other gyms, said they are willing to travel to visit Aisle 19.
“I'm really excited that we can share some nice time together,” Acharya said. “It's kind of social because you hang out and watch people climb a bit. You can see other people succeeding right in front of you and then you learn how to take a beat, try it again. It's just a good fit.”
