REI Co-op to hold grand opening celebration in Bedford, NH on October 6-8

REI Co-op opens its new Bedford, New Hampshire store on Friday, October 6. The community is invited to join a three-day grand opening celebration with outdoor brands, nonprofit partners, afternoon socials, and more.  

Located in Bedford’s Market and Main shopping center, the 22,000 square-foot store will offer a wide assortment of gear for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing, snow sports and more. The store includes a specialty bike and ski shop led by certified mechanics to help keep gear in good shape throughout the year. The co-op is known for its knowledgeable staff and the Bedford team is excited to share their expertise with the community. 

Doors will open at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday. In addition to morning giveaways (while supplies last), local Flight Coffee Co will serve complimentary coffee. Community members can also take home a commemorative camp mug with a donation to Piscataquog Land Conservancy.  

Piscataquog Land Conservancy will be present throughout the weekend to share information about their work conserving land and creating community in the local area. 

 “This summer my leadership team and I were able to meet with PLC's executive director Chris Wells at their Florence Tarr property. We learned about all the wonderful work the organization does to preserve access to outdoor spaces right in the store’s backyard,” shared Trevor Wellman, REI Bedford store manager. “Through this connection, we hope to increase access to New Hampshire’s beautiful outdoor spaces so that more communities can benefit from time outside.”  

Every afternoon from 1-5 p.m. there will be an outdoor social next to the store. With the beautiful fall season in full swing, community members are invited to enjoy local trivia, sweepstakes, REI Co-op member celebrations, scavenger hunts, and more. New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition will be present throughout the weekend, sharing how they develop and maintain railway corridors into four-season recreation opportunities across the state. Outdoor brands will include Arc’teryx, Altra, Black Diamond Equipment, Kuat, Nikwax North America, Gregory Mtn Products, Oboz Footwear, Nuun, Adidas, Mountain House, Keen Footwear, Smartwool, Osprey, Hydro Flask, Sea to Summit, Brooks Running, and Danner. Attendees can also experience virtual reality technology presented by Arc’Teryx. 

REI is the country’s largest consumer co-op. Everyone is welcome to shop, participate in classes and events, and learn from the co-op's expertise. Membership at the co-op provides a wide range of benefits. New Hampshire currently has approximately 78,900 REI Co-op members, with 3,400 living in the Bedford and Manchester area. The Bedford store will be the second REI in New Hampshire, following the opening of REI North Conway 102 miles away in 2019. Additional stores nearby include Reading, Massachusetts (43 miles away, opened 1987); Cambridge, Massachusetts (51 miles away, opened 2021); Boston, Massachusetts (55 miles away, opened 2003); Framingham, Massachusetts (62 miles away, opened 1997); Hingham, Massachusetts (70 miles away, opened 2004); and Westbrook, Maine (99 miles away, opened 2021). 

About the REI Co-op