Popular outdoor retail store announces new location for the Sarasota-Bradenton area
Fans of a popular outdoor recreation services store won’t have to travel to Tampa for their camping gear for much longer.
REI Co-op announced Monday it plans to open a location at University Town Center in Sarasota by fall 2023.
The 25,000-square-foot store is scheduled to have a full-service bike shop, curbside pickup and online shopping for its assortment of apparel and gear for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing and more.
“Ten years ago, we opened our first store in Florida with a Jacksonville location. We’ve long recognized the opportunity to better serve our customers who live and play in the Sarasota area, as they have been driving an hour to our Tampa store,” Les Hatton, REI’s regional director, said in a news release.
“Incredible natural places such as Alafia State Park, Myakka River State Park, Robinson Preserve and many others offer some of the best cycling, paddling, hiking, bird watching, and outdoor activities in the state,” Hatton continued. “We look forward to being a resource to the community and building lasting relationships with regional nonprofits.”
When REI opens at 161 North Cattlemen Road later this year, it means Manatee and Sarasota county residents won’t have to travel north to Tampa for the closest REI store.
REI Co-op memberships will also be available. There are currently 114,000 members in the Tampa Bay region, which includes Bradenton and Sarasota.
The Sarasota store marks the eighth REI Co-op in Florida. The Pacific Northwest company is headquartered in Seattle.
“As the country’s largest consumer co-op, anyone is welcome to tap into the expertise of REI’s store staff and online resources such as its Expert Advice library to learn or advance skills, plan adventures, and more,” the company said in a news release. “Members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits, including a used gear trade-in program called Re/Supply; discounts on shop services and experiences; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more. In addition to discounts at the co-op’s bike shop, REI members receive free flat-tire repair (labor only).”
This story was originally published March 13, 2023 at 11:29 AM.
