REI Co-op to hold grand opening celebration in Carlsbad, California on February 21-22

REI Co-op is excited to announce the grand opening of its new store in Carlsbad, California on February 21. The community is invited to join a two-day celebration filled with giveaways, outdoor brand activations, an afternoon social, music, and more. 

The new Carlsbad store is located in La Costa Town Square at Rancho Santa Fe Road and La Costa Ave. The location spans 28,000 square feet and offers a wide assortment of apparel and gear for camping, hiking, cycling, running, fitness, climbing, and more. The store also features a full-service ski and bike shop staffed by certified mechanics to tune and repair cycling and snowsports gear.  

“As we approach our relocation to the new Carlsbad store, I think about countless conversations with members and employees sharing how time outside impacted their lives and how REI was the conduit for those experiences,” says Carlsbad store manager Robert Samitier. “The co-op is where quality equipment and expertise meet, but it’s not only that. REI is a place where all are welcome, with no preconceptions of what an individual is capable of, but rather a genuine curiosity of what their goals are. I am elated with this opportunity to move into a larger location and increase the impact that REI has on our community.” 

REI’s doors will open at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday for the grand opening celebration. There will be free coffee from a local coffee shop for members who join for the morning activities. Exclusive camp mugs will also be available with a donation to the local nonprofit Un Mar de Colores. Each day there will be activities from outdoor brands and local organizations from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., including product demos, giveaways, games and more. 

REI is the country’s largest consumer co-op. Everyone is welcome to shop and learn from REI’s expertise. Co-op members enjoy an even wider range of benefits, including free U.S. standard shipping, member coupons and discounts, free machine ski wax services, a used gear trade-in program, an annual member reward of 10% back on eligible purchases, and more. There are more than 5,100,000 lifetime co-op members in California, 527,000 in the greater San Diego area and 63,000 in Carlsbad. 

New members join a growing community that fights for a life outside. With each new membership purchased, the co-op donates $5 to support the REI Cooperative Action Fund. Launched in 2021, the community-supported nonprofit is fueled by donations from REI members, customers, employees, foundations, and corporate partners – including REI Co-op. The REI Fund provides support to nonprofit organizations across the country doing essential work to create a more equitable outdoors for everyone. 

The Carlsbad store is REI’s 30th store in California, and 11^th in Southern California. This store is a relocation of REI Encinitas, which opened in 2004. The Encinitas store will close at 3pm on Sunday, February 9. Both locations will be closed February 9 – 13. The store doors will open at REI Carlsbad on February 14 for a soft opening for employees to finalize the store and train. The grand opening starts at 10 a.m. on February 21. 

The Encinitas store staff are excited to bring their expertise and enthusiasm two and half miles down the road to this new location. Additional employees have been hired over the last few weeks to staff the larger store. Employees receive a wide variety of benefits, including competitive pay, health care for part-time employees, retirement contributions, and generous product and service discounts. 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. 

The recent wildfires in Southern California have been top of mind for REI. The co-op is working to support its employees and the greater Los Angeles area in these challenging times. You can read more about REI’s efforts to support those impacted by the fires in the REI Newsroom. 

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