REI Co-op set to open in Santa Cruz, California with three-day celebration

REI Co-op opens the doors of its new Santa Cruz store on Friday, November 12. To celebrate the grand opening, the co-op invites local members and the community to join a three-day celebration scheduled for November 12-14.

Located at 1662 Commercial Way, the 22,300 square-foot store will offer a wide assortment of top-quality outdoor gear and apparel for hiking, cycling, running, paddling, camping, fitness, snow sports, and more. Additional features include a community room and specialty bike, ski and snowboard shop staffed with certified mechanics to tune or repair equipment.

During the grand opening celebration, the store will open each day at 10 a.m. and offer 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. Nonprofit partners participating in the festivities include Bay Area Run Crew, Coastal Watershed Council, Ecology Action, Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship, Sempervirens Fund, She is Beautiful, and Ventana Wilderness Alliance.

“As the co-op’s 15th store in Northern California and 30th in the state, our team at REI Santa Cruz looks forward to serving the outdoor community in their active lifestyles and visitors who come to explore this amazing region,” said John Davis, REI store manager. “Whether trying a new activity or heading out on a familiar trail to bike, run or hike, we aspire to be at the center of people’s outdoor lives for products and expertise.”

Anyone is welcome to shop at REI and tap into the company’s resources in support of their active lifestyle, but members enjoy a range of benefits. There are more than 1.4 million lifetime members in Northern California. Prior to opening, there were nearly 19,000 members in Santa Cruz and 4 million lifetime members in the state.

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. REI Santa Cruz will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Customers may be asked to wait in line outside the store to ensure proper distancing.
• Employees are required to wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status. Customers are not required to wear CDC approved face coverings while in the store, per Santa Cruz County public health officials.
• 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 over 45 years, REI has been a part of the Northern California community, with stores from Santa Rosa to Monterey, including the co-op’s second-ever store, located in Berkeley that opened in 1975. 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.

As a co-op, REI annually invests millions of dollars in local nonprofit organizations to steward trails, waterways and parks and connect people to the outdoors. Over the last five years, the co-op has shared over $4.5 million with local outdoor nonprofits in California. This year, more than $663,000 went to 65 nonprofits in California, including Ecology Action, Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship, Saved by Nature, and Sempervirens Fund.

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.

About the REI Co-op