Goldfish Swim School Selects Site for New School in the Portland Sports Complex

PORTLAND, ME – Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC, the premier learn-to-swim franchise concept, has announced it has secured a location for the first Goldfish Swim School in the state of Maine. Goldfish Swim School – Portland will be located at 550 Warren Ave. in the Portland Sports Complex. Construction of the new location will begin in April 2023 and with plans to open the new school in late 2023. Existing franchisees Tim and Jennifer Casper, who own three other Goldfish Swim School locations in New Jersey, are behind the development in Portland. The Caspers also have an ownership interest in the Gowanus, Brooklyn Goldfish Swim School, which will bring their Goldfish Swim School portfolio to five total schools with this newest addition.  

“After searching for the perfect location to build our newest Goldfish Swim School in Portland, we are thrilled to have signed a lease and have a date to begin construction in the Portland Sports Complex,” said Tim Casper. “Since opening our first Goldfish Swim School in 2015, it has been a joy to see our schools become a place for kids and families to learn and make memories. As this will be the first Goldfish Swim School in Maine, we cannot wait to begin welcoming Portland families to our newest school in 2023 and further expand this brand into other communities in the state.” The Portland location also plans to add over 50 full-time and part-time jobs to assist with the daily operations of the swim school which will include managers, lifeguards, swim instructors and front desk staff. 

The Caspers have been franchisees with Goldfish Swim School for nearly 10 years. They crossed paths with the brand after discovering a dire need for more learn-to-swim facilities in their hometown of Bergen County, NJ when searching for the right fit for their four young children. Not only were there not enough pools or instructors to service the high demand in the area, but the facilities were dated and not the family-friendly environment many young families seek out.

The Caspers have always viewed water safety as a top priority. They have family in the Portland area and appreciate the great quality of life living near the water. They believe there is a need for quality swim lessons in Portland and hope to fill that need with a premier facility. Jennifer grew up a swimmer, swam competitively during high school and was a lifeguard for many years. They truly believe in the value of swim lessons as a lifesaving skill that is fun and confidence-building for children both in and around the water. The husband-wife team learned about Goldfish Swim School because a member of Tim and Jennifer’s family have a close relationship with co-founders Chris and Jenny McCuiston, and several of their family members had already opened their own successful schools in Illinois and Pennsylvania. All touted the strong business model, renowned proprietary curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, marketing support and more.

“As we prepare to begin construction on the new Goldfish Swim School in Portland, we are celebrating this milestone in our growth journey as we break ground into a new state,” said Chris McCuiston, CEO & Co-Founder of Goldfish Swim School. “High-quality swim lessons with proven results and a focus on family and community will continue to be a service families everywhere are seeking out. We are excited about the potential growth opportunities in the state of Maine, and we are thrilled to have to have Tim and Jennifer taking the lead in this new market.”

Consistently outranking its competition, Goldfish Swim School continues to prove itself as a top-rated and most established swim school franchise in the space. Goldfish Swim School’s core values extend from its members to its franchisees, as the Franchise Office Support team is committed to going above and beyond with every detail. It is this level of best-in-class support that drives prospective franchisees to continuously choose Goldfish.

Riding this wave of success, the company is looking for qualified and engaged individuals seeking multi-unit opportunities who are involved with their community, have a passion for water safety and are hungry to dive into the world of franchising. Today, with 140+ locations open and more than150 in development, the brand is on track for strategic franchise expansion across North America.

Each school offers swim lessons and programs using a proprietary philosophy, The Science of SwimPlay®, to build life skills both in and out of the water using play-based learning in a fun and safe environment. Each school’s number one focus and main priority is always the same – educating children on water safety while teaching them how to swim and respect the water.

For more information on Goldfish Swim School and its franchise opportunity, please visit https://www.goldfishswimschool.com/franchise-opportunities/ or call 248-801-1850.   

About Goldfish Swim School 

Founded by husband-and-wife team Chris and Jenny McCuiston, Goldfish Swim School provides swim lessons and water safety instruction to infants and children ages four months to 12 years. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using their research-based philosophy called The Science of SwimPlay®. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Goldfish Swim School was established in Birmingham, Michigan in 2006, and opened its first franchise location in 2009. Recently, the brand was recognized by Entrepreneur in its Franchise 500® ranking for the 7th consecutive year, Franchise Times’ Fast & Serious List, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 5000. Goldfish Swim School is currently in the process of expanding franchise opportunities throughout North America, with more than 140+ schools open, and an additional 150+ in development in more than 30 states and Canada.