Where could I rent hall space for a martial arts group?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m part of a small martial arts study group where learning and training is the number one priority. We don’t have a hall or dojo and usually meet outdoors. Of course around this time of year it just gets too cold, and in the middle of the summer it can be uncomfortably hot.

Permanent rental space might be in our future but not for a long while yet we simply don’t have the funds. In the meantime I’d like to look into the possibility of renting space somewhere just for our weekly, weekend meetings at least during the colder and hottest months of the year.

I thought that perhaps some dopers might have some suggestions on where to look for a place? any Google searches I’ve tried for renting in northern new jersey spit out realstate listings. Where should I look, how much do you think renting space might cost?

Thanks for any input!

2

Do you have a community recreation center? If it has classrooms (for aerobics classes and the like) you might be able to rent one of those for a fee. However, I am not sure if they would require you to make the class open to the rest of the rec center members or not.

Other places that groups meet:
Churches/temples
Schools
City buildings (city hall “community rooms,” old schools still owned by the city, etc)
Libraries with meeting rooms

3

I’d see about renting loft space in an old industrial building (do they have those in New Jersey?). You can get pretty good spaces cheap.

4

Try a local VFW or Legion Hall. They’re usually up for such things. And you might get some folks interested in what you’re doing, too.

5

Many fire departments have reception halls which would prove suitable. Call around for rates and availability

6

Various fraternal lodges also have halls to let.

7

I was just going to recommend contacting the local Elks lodge in your town.

And if you become a member they usually give you better rental rates than non-members.