An update on the Sender One Westwood bouldering gym

We’re excited to announce that after 2 years of delays from COVID and city permitting, construction on our Westwood bouldering gym is finally underway. Just as UCLA students are returning to campus this fall, we’re making progress on turning the Mann Festival Theatre, which closed back in 2009, into a beautiful climbing gym. 

Sender One Westwood will feature 10,000 square feet of climbing, yoga, and fitness. This space will even include an upstairs mezzanine dedicated to climbing-specific training, including equipment like adjustable training boards.  

Progress in building up this gym is especially meaningful, as our CEO and co-founder Alice Kao (UCLA ‘01) fondly remembers watching movies at the Mann Festival Theatre during her time as a student. With these nostalgic memories, her excitement for the new gym opening is mixed with some sadness in seeing the historic theatre go. 

We are so proud and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of the growth of Westwood Village while building up the future of rock climbing as a community and as a sport. Follow along for more updates via our website and social media platforms. For more information and Sender One Westwood, visit this article from the UCLA newsroom and this blog post!

Mini update on new Sender One locations… 

In other news, Sender One Lakewood is about to go into permitting! We hope to start raising the roof early next year with an expected opening in late 2023. In the meantime, Sender One Huntington Beach is still slated to open in 2024. Thank you for being a part of our community and growing with us! 

So it begins! The renovation project we have all been waiting for has arrived. We’re adding laundry & towel service to our main gym in Santa Ana, as well as two gender neutral and family restrooms (with a shower in one of them)!

These upgrades mean better service from start to finish. Laundry facilities ensure we can leave as clean as we came in (no more damp towels in your backpack). Gender neutral and family restrooms ensure all climbers feel welcome and safe to come off a hard climb sparkling clean.

Whether you’re climbing on your lunch, with your kids, or seeking a gym that’s as inclusive as its routes are rad, these upgrades will mean a better visit for you.

This long awaited project begins on May 2nd and will last until end of July. Yes, there will be some hurdles to overcome, but when all is said and done, everyone will have something new to appreciate!

During construction, our main gym restrooms will be closed. To ensure everyone is able to climb comfortably, we’re providing additional service and restocking at the restrooms and showers of the Yoga & Fitness studio next door, which will remain open. Additionally, on-site mobile restrooms will be available. The nice ones, don't worry 😉!

Check out the timeline of the project and learn more below.

June 6th

⚒️ Estimated date we'll begin the mezzanine stair demolition

🧑‍🏫 Intro classes will be held on the "shorty wall," directly across from the current intro class area

🧗 The "Top Out" boulder will not be able to be topped out during this time. Setters will modify it to allow down climbing from this section during construction


There is a possibility we will get started on the mezzanine sooner, and we'll (happily) notify everyone should that occur!

July 27th

🥳 Estimated completion date for mezzanine stairs and reopening of all facilities.

Why now?

As some may know, these upgrades were originally slated for January. However, as you’ve probably experienced outside the gym, supply chain issues have interrupted plans in every aspect of life this year. When we found out we were able to jump on the opportunity to get the upgrades rolling, we knew not to miss the window. Our members deserve these upgrades, and the sooner the better!

It's a lot of work, but these changes will help us better meet the needs of our community and ensure Sender One SNA remains the best place to climb in Orange County. When you visit the gym, you'll notice plentiful signs to help you navigate and staff will be on hand to help.

Once it's all done we'll all wipe the sweat off our brows, toss the towels in the new laundry machines, and look back on this as an amazing investment in our gym's future.

Thank you all for coming along with us as we project these upgrades together!

A first look at the climbing walls of Sender One Westwood.

Our fourth location and second bouldering-only facility will reside in the historic Westwood Village. Slated to open later this year, this 8,000 sf climbing center will also include a 2,000 sf upstairs mezzanine with training boards, fitness, and yoga. We are currently in the permitting process and hope construction will begin in early spring!

Introducing the Sender One Westwood location logo (left), plus a mini-sneak peek of the space (not entirely to scale), specifically the design of the climbing walls provided by Walltopia. The inspiration behind Sender One Westwood's logo and walls focuses on the uniqueness of the original space, the Mann Festival Theatre (think film strips, directional lighting, projectors) which opened in 1969, 40 years after being one of the first six buildings in the Westwood Village area in 1929. It was actually the first Ralphs supermarket store! The theatre has remained vacant since 2009 after it permanently closed.

We're honored and thrilled to bring life to this historic building. The wall designs and the interior will preserve a theatre-like feel. We're even keeping the marquee at the entrance to pay tribute to the once-popular Westwood venue. 

Opening 2023

We look forward to creating new climbing experiences in the Westwood Village neighborhood and serving our existing community. Follow along for updates and job opportunities through our social media platforms and website. For more about Sender One Westwood and the location, revisit the original announcement post!