Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op will open a new store in fall 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The location will offer a wide assortment of apparel, gear and expertise for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, climbing and more. For those who adventure on two wheels, a full-service bike shop will be staffed by certified mechanics.
“We’ve proudly had a presence in Georgia for more than 30 years through our first store in Atlanta. REI Athens will be our sixth location in the state, allowing us to serve our members and outdoor community more broadly as well as support nonprofit partners,” said Becky Smith, REI retail regional director. “We look forward to being a resource in Athens, whether introducing residents and visitors to new activities or supporting their love of cycling, hiking, camping, running and more.”
REI is the country’s largest consumer co-op with 20 million members. While anyone is welcome to shop and tap into the company’s resources in support of an active lifestyle, members enjoy a range of benefits. Perks include a used gear trade-in program in exchange for REI gift cards; discounts on shop services, rentals, classes and multiday adventure travel; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; early access to gear and apparel; and more.
REI actively partners with nonprofits across the country that steward public lands and connect people to the outdoors. Since 2002, the co-op has invested $1.5 million in Georgia land agencies and nonprofit partners. This year, $100,000 was directed to seven organizations including Catalyst Sports, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, Greening Youth Foundation, Peachtree Creek Greenway, Refugee Women’s Network, and Roswell Alpharetta Mountain Bike Organization.
Over the last five years, REI has helped over 27,000 people connect to the outdoors in Atlanta and beyond through its guided experiences and events. Among its most popular destinations is Fort Yargo State Park where the co-op hosts day, sunset and family kayaking tours. The experiences leader offers year-round fully guided classes and day tours for climbing, cycling, hiking and backpacking, and more. The company also has a range of virtual classes and workshops to connect more people to a life outdoors.
Store Facts
- Address: Beechwood Shopping Center; 196 Alps Road, Athens, GA 30606
- Store Size: 17,200 square feet
- Special Features: Full-service bikeshop, buy online – pick up in store, curbside pickup, virtual outfitting
- REI Co-op Lifetime Membership: 484,000 members inGeorgia, more than 6,100 in Athens
- REI Stores in Georgia: Alpharetta (opened 2015), Atlanta (opened 1990), Buford (opened 2003), Kennesaw (opened 2008) and Perimeter (opened 1995)
Join the REI team
REI expects to hire approximately 50 employees for REI Athens. Candidates interested in joining the REI team can apply online at REI.com/jobs and a timeline for hiring is here. Candidates can set up a job alert on the co-op’s career site to be notified when positions are posted. New employees will receive a wide variety of benefits, including generous product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions. REI employees also enjoy unique perks, such as two paid “Co-op Way Days” each year that allow them to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity and an additional paid day off on Black Friday to encourage all employees to #OptOutside.
About the REI Co-op
REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 20 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 171 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.
