REI Co-op set to open first store in Wyoming through Jackson Hole location; invests $20,000 in local community

REI Co-op is celebrating the opening of its new store in Powderhorn Mall, offering a wide assortment of top-quality outdoor gear and apparel for camping, hiking, snow sports, cycling, running, fitness and more. Located at 974 West Broadway, the store will also have a specialty bike, ski and snowboard shop staffed with certified mechanics to tune or repair equipment.

As the first store in the state, REI Jackson Hole opens its doors to the public on Friday, November 5. REI members and the community are invited to join the three-day grand opening celebration. The store will open each day at 9 a.m., with giveaways while supplies last. REI will host an outdoor social every afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. with music, outdoor vendors and local partners. Participating nonprofits will include Friends of the Bridger Teton, Coombs Outdoors, and Friends of Pathways.

"We are thrilled to join the community and support the active lifestyles of local residents and visitors as they play and explore in the region," said Jason Priest, REI Jackson Hole store manager. "Whether trying a new activity or heading out on a familiar trail to bike, hike or ski, we aspire to be at the center of people’s outdoor lives for products and expertise."

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. Prior to the opening of REI Jackson Hole, more than 4,600 people in the city and 31,000 in the state were lifetime co-op members.

Each year, REI invests millions of dollars in local nonprofit organizations to steward trails, waterways and parks and connect people to the outdoors. As REI approached opening its doors in the community, $20,000 in total was invested into three nonprofits: Coombs Outdoors, Friends of Bridger Teton and Friends of Pathways.

The store 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. Customers may be asked to wait in line outside the store to ensure proper distancing. REI Jackson Hole will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Employees are required to wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. Per guidance from the Teton County Health Department, customers are asked to wear CDC approved face coverings while in the store.
• Socially distanced queuing at store entrances, footwear, cash registers and specialty shop counters.
• Plexiglass shields at all registers.
• Enhanced cleaning procedures with thorough, frequent cleanings of high-touch surface areas.

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.

While REI Jackson Hole will be the co-op’s first retail location in the state, REI’s adventure travel company has offered guided multi-day hiking, kayaking and family trips in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks for more than a decade.

About the REI Co-op