Seattle — The national specialty outdoor retailer is coming to Delaware and Iowa for the first time late this year and opening a sixth store in Virginia in 2016.
REI’s retail expansion is part of its strategy to serve a growing nationwide community of people who love life outside.
“We have wanted to open stores in Delaware and Iowa for years, so this is exciting, and we can’t wait to bring the REI experience closer to our members and customers in Virginia. At each store, we’ll work to engage, support and grow the outdoor community,” says Tim Spangler, REI’s senior vice president of retail.
In fall 2015, REI will open a 23,500-square-foot store in the new Christiana Fashion Center. Also this fall, REI will bring a new store to the outdoor community in West Des Moines. The 23,500-square-foot, one-story building will be in Mills Crossing, a new retail and housing development. Today, the nearest REI is more than 200 miles away.
The company will open its doors at Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach in spring 2016. The first REI in Virginia opened in 1990 in Bailey’s Crossroads. Today, the nearest REI is more than 100 miles away in the Richmond-Short Pump area.
Founded as a co-op in 1938, today REI has 5.6 million active members and 138 stores in 33 states. REI is headquartered near Seattle.
SOURCE: REI