REI Co-op opens new store in Orland Park, Illinois

CHICAGO – REI Co-op is celebrating the opening of its new 20,000-square-foot store in the Village of Orland Park, offering a wide assortment of top-quality outdoor gear and apparel for camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, paddling and more. Located at 15515 South 95th Avenue, the store also has a specialty bike and Nordic ski shop staffed with certified experts to tune or repair equipment.

REI Orland Park opens its doors to the public on Friday, August 27. REI members and the community are invited to join the three-day grand opening celebration. The store will open each morning at 10 a.m. with giveaways while supplies last. REI will host an outdoor social every afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. with music, outdoor gear vendors and local partners. Nonprofits participating in the grand opening celebration will include Friends of Big Marsh, Major Taylor Trail Keepers, Envision Unlimited, Chicago Adventure Therapy, Adaptive Adventures, Friends of the Forest Preserves and more.

"We are thrilled to join the Orland Park community and support the active lifestyles of local residents as they play and explore doing the activities they love," said Amanda Hinton, REI Orland Park store manager. "Whether trying a new activity or heading out on a familiar trail to bike, hike or trail run, we have the gear and expertise our members and outdoor community need to get outside."

REI is the country's largest consumer co-op, with 20 million lifetime 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 an online used gear trade-in program in exchange for REI gift cards; discounts on experiences, classes, rentals and shop services; a share of the co-op's annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more.

REI Orland Park will have health and safety protocols in place designed to maintain physical distance between customers and employees. This includes:

• Limiting the number of people in store. REI Orland Park will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Customers may be asked to wait in line outside the store to ensure proper distancing.
• We are asking our community to help us create a safe environment for all. That includes asking customers to wear CDC approved face coverings in CDC designated "substantial" or "high" transmission areas. Employees working in these areas are required to wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status.
• Socially distanced queuing at store entrances, footwear, cash registers and bike and ski shop counters.
• Plexiglass shields at all registers.
• Enhanced cleaning procedures with thorough, frequent cleanings of high-touch surface areas.

REI has been part of the Illinois outdoor community since opening its first location in Niles in 1991, which relocated to Northbrook in 2007. With nearly 535,000 REI lifetime members in the state, REI also has stores in Lincoln Park (opened 2008, relocated 2019), Oakbrook Terrace (opened 1994), Vernon Hills (opened 2018).

For those not able to visit an REI store, online resources are available. Anyone may schedule virtual outfitting appointments to receive personalized, one-on-one fit services and how-to's for a wide range of activities. REI's Expert Advice library offers numerous resources for customers and members to learn new skills, choose the right gear and prepare for outdoor adventures.

In addition to its retail locations, REI offers local classes and guided day trips in Illinois. As a national leader in outdoor experiences, the co-op helps more than 350,000 people across the country get outside each year. Popular programs during the fall include Two Brothers Prairie Path Bike and Brew, Indiana Dunes National Park Backpacking Trip, Indiana Dunes National Park Fall Colors Hiking Tour, Full Moon Hike, and Chicago's Wild Mile Kayak Tour. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, REI local experiences are limited at this time across Illinois and the country. Please check REI.com/events for the latest details.

Each year, REI invests millions of dollars in in local nonprofit organizations to steward trails, waterways and parks and connect people to the outdoors. Since 2018, REI has invested over $430,000 in local outdoor nonprofits in Illinois. This year, $100,000 went to 11 local nonprofits, including the Active Transportation Alliance, Friends of the Chicago River, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Outerbelt Alliance, Openlands, and Forest Preserve Foundation.

About the REI Co-op