REI to open store in Pinecrest development in fall 2016, bringing 50 new jobs to the area.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the fall of 2016, outdoor adventurers will have a new place to shop for gear. REI plans to open a new store in the Pinecrest development, near Orange, and a second location in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Cleveland is the second-largest market of active REI members currently without a store. REI Cleveland will be the first co-op location in Northeast Ohio and fourth store in the state since September 2012, joining stores in Cincinnati, Columbus-Easton and Columbus-Dublin, according to a press release from the company.
The 27,000 square foot store will be located in the Pinecrest development at Interstate 271 and Harvard Boulevard, bringing about 50 new jobs to the area.
With the nearest store currently more than 120 miles away in Pittsburgh, the company said the location will provide convenient access to the co-op for the outdoor community in the greater Cleveland area, offering gear and expertise for activities including biking, fitness, watersports and travel.
"Our continued growth in Ohio and Pennsylvania speaks to the active outdoor lifestyle of both communities," said Greg Medlyn, REI divisional vice president of Retail in a press release sent out Thursday. "We are excited to open our fourth store in each state and can't wait to better serve local adventurers looking to have fun and explore the outdoors."
The stores will offer the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling and snow sports. REI Cleveland will serve over 9,500 active members, while REI King of Prussia will outfit nearly 78,000 REI members in the Philadelphia area.
As a national leader in outdoor education, both locations will offer year-round REI Outdoor School classes, educating participants with a robust schedule of free and low-cost in-store classes taught by expert instructors. Popular topics include camping essentials, fitness monitoring and presentations about the best local places to play outside. The stores will also feature bike shops for expert assembly and repair.
Wherever REI has a presence, the co-op partners with nonprofit organizations to invest in the infrastructure that makes life outside more accessible to the community. REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits, according to a press release.
REI has granted $60,000 to six organizations in Ohio this year, including Great Parks of Hamilton County, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, and Central Ohio Mountain Biking Organization. Overall, the co-op will invest $5.9 million in more than 300 nonprofits across the country to increase access to and steward over 1,000 outdoor places in 2015.
If interested in applying for one of the 50 positions at REI, candidates can sign up online to be notified when the store begins accepting applications. Employees receive a variety of benefits, including product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions.
REI is headquartered near Seattle and currently has 140 stores in 33 states.
