REI opens DC flagship

REI Co-op, a national outdoor co-op, is opening the doors of their fifth flagship location on Monday in Washington, D.C. The store is located in the NOMA neighborhood of Washington and will take up 51,000 square feet.The company has been celebrating the opening all summer with 100 days of community-centric activities under the banner “United Outside”. To culminate this campaign, REI will host a block party this weekend.

The concept of REI's new store is to provide not just a shopping destination, but a space for the Washington outdoor community to connect. The space will act as both a place to shop gear and will also offer a 1,052-square-foot La Colombe café. The store will also feature an outdoor courtyard in the center of the store, as well as bike, ski and snowboard shop services.

"Our employees have been connecting with the outdoor community within the District and beyond since we first announced that we were opening a store nearly two years ago.” Rebecca Smith, general manager of the DC Flagship said “Our members have been patiently waiting and we're excited to open our doors. The flagship's design represents a whole new approach to how REI thinks about the customer experience, presenting the co-op, our services, and experience at their best."

REI is a Seattle-based specialty outdoor retailer. The brand has 148 stores over 36 states, and over 6 million active members.The brand offers both the latest in outdoor gear, but a community of classes and forums for the adventure-loving.

In anticipation of the store opening, REI has invested over $1 million to both local and national nonprofits in the D.C. area. This weekend, the co-op will host outdoor classes, activities, as well as performances by national and local musicians. All events will take place in the Wunder Garten and Storey Park area of Washington.

REI opens DC flagship

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