Few visitors walking into Le Club Climbing Gym & Café today would ever guess what the building used to be.
Before becoming one of Phnom Penh’s most active climbing communities, the property operated as a nightclub. The large open spaces, dark interior, and remnants of its former life made it difficult to imagine the building becoming anything else.
Yet today, it has been completely transformed into one of Cambodia’s most unique sporting venues, a place where climbers train, families gather, and a growing community continues to take shape.
The story behind that transformation is not just about climbing. It is a story about vision, persistence, and seeing potential where others might not.
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An Unexpected Beginning
When Le Club founder Antoine first arrived in Phnom Penh, opening a climbing gym was already part of a long-term dream.
At the time, however, he was simply searching for an apartment.
Through IPS Cambodia, Antoine connected with property consultant Pheaktra, who helped him secure a suitable apartment within just a few days. During their conversations, Antoine mentioned his larger ambition of creating a dedicated climbing facility in Cambodia.
Rather than treating it as just another property inquiry, Pheaktra began searching for locations that could potentially support such an ambitious project.
One property in particular stood out.
The building was formerly known as Jet Studio Club & Lounge, a nightclub that had been vacant for some time. Structurally, the building remained in good condition, but the interior presented a very different picture.
“It was hard to project ourselves into the future,” Antoine recalls.
Years of nightclub operations had left behind a layout that seemed completely disconnected from the vision of a modern climbing gym. The space was cluttered, worn, and difficult to imagine in a completely different form.
Still, there was something about the building that kept drawing the team back.
Seeing Potential Where Others Might Not
Transforming the property into a climbing gym would require significant investment, extensive renovations, and a great deal of imagination.
To ensure they were making the right decision, Antoine and his team visited the building multiple times.
Throughout the process, Pheaktra remained actively involved, arranging additional viewings, helping facilitate discussions with the landlord, and ensuring that both parties clearly understood each other’s expectations.
Negotiations for commercial properties often involve more than simply agreeing on rental terms. They require trust, communication, and a shared understanding of long-term goals.
According to Antoine, Pheaktra played an important role in helping create that relationship.
“He showed his support throughout the process and helped make sure both parties’ intentions were clear. He helped us negotiate the best deal and made the relationship with the landlord smooth from the beginning.”
Even after Le Club opened its doors, that support did not end.
Months later, whenever discussions with the landlord were needed, Pheaktra continued to make himself available to assist and help maintain a positive working relationship between both sides.
A New Purpose for an Old Building
What followed was a remarkable transformation.
The former nightclub was reimagined as a climbing gym and café, complete with climbing walls, training facilities, social spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere designed to introduce people to the sport.
Today, few visitors would recognize the building’s former identity.
Instead of music and nightlife, the venue is now filled with sports enthusiasts challenging themselves, friends encouraging one another, and families discovering a sport that continues to gain popularity around the world.
As climbing grows internationally, particularly following its inclusion in the Olympic Games, interest in the sport has steadily increased across Southeast Asia, including Cambodia.
Le Club has become one of the driving forces behind that growth.
Time To Rise: More Than a Competition
On June 27–28, 2026, Le Club will host Time To Rise, a two-day climbing festival and competition designed to bring together climbers and the wider community.
While the competition itself provides athletes with an important goal for their training, the event is intended to be much more than a sporting contest.
Many of Le Club’s climbers spend months preparing and improving their skills. In countries where climbing is more established, athletes have access to numerous competitions throughout the year. In Cambodia, however, opportunities remain limited.
Time To Rise aims to fill that gap by providing local climbers with a meaningful objective and a chance to test themselves in a competitive environment.
At the same time, the event is designed to be welcoming for everyone, not just climbers.
Spectators can attend free of charge and enjoy a weekend filled with food, drinks, music, games, activities, and prizes. The festival atmosphere is intended to encourage friends and family members to discover climbing while supporting participants throughout the competition.
Qualifying rounds will take place on Saturday, with finals scheduled for Sunday.
More than simply identifying winners, the event aims to celebrate the growth of Cambodia’s climbing community and introduce the sport to new audiences.
Looking Toward the Future
The success of Le Club has reinforced the team’s belief that climbing has a promising future in Cambodia.
Plans for future expansion are already being considered as interest in sport continues to grow.
Looking back, however, none of it would have been possible without finding the right location.
What was once an abandoned nightclub has become a thriving community hub, proving that great opportunities are not always obvious at first glance.
Sometimes, all it takes is the right vision, and the right people, to see what a space could become.
ទំនាក់ទំនង IPS៖
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