REI Co-op to hold grand opening celebration in Mount Pleasant on February 17-19

REI Co-op opens its new Mount Pleasant store on Friday, February 17th and invites the community to a three-day celebration filled with outdoor brands, nonprofit partners, an afternoon social and more. To celebrate the grand opening, REI invested $10,000 each in Charleston Waterkeeper and Coastal Expeditions Foundation.  

Located in Indigo Square at 1720 Shoremeade Road, the 21,500 square-foot store features a wide assortment of top-quality outdoor gear and apparel for camping, hiking, cycling, running, fitness, paddling, climbing and more. The new store will also feature a specialty bike and ski shop staffed with certified mechanics to tune or repair equipment. 

“We’ve had many highlights opening the store, including meeting residents who share our excitement to be part of the community and connecting with nonprofits doing incredible work to protect natural spaces and help others achieve an active lifestyle,” said Lori Bump, REI store manager. “Our team recently partnered with Palmetto Conservation Foundation at the Swamp Fox Passage on the Palmetto Trail to build bog bridges and to perform trail maintenance.” 

Doors open at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. on Sunday during the celebration. Giveaways will be available each day while supplies last. An outdoor social will be hosted every afternoon from 1 to 5 p.m. with music, nonprofits and outdoor brands including Adidas, Altra, Arc’teryx, Black Diamond, Brooks Running, Cascade Designs, ENO Hammocks, Gregory Mtn Products, HOKA, Hydro Flask, Kuhl, NEMO Equipment, Nikwax, Oboz Footwear, Osprey, Puffin Drinkwear, and Sea to Summit.  

Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, will hold a book signing at REI’s grand opening event on Friday. Customers and members are invited to say hello, get to know the local Outdoor Afro network, and learn about the work Outdoor Afro Inc and REI have collaborated on. Rue will sign copies of her newly released book, “Nature Swagger.” 

REI is the country’s largest consumer co-op with 21.5 million lifetime members. Anyone is welcome to tap into the expertise of REI’s store staff and online resources such as its Expert Advice library to learn or advance skills, plan adventures, and more.  Members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits, including a used gear trade-in program called Re/Supply; discounts on shop services and experiences; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more. In addition to discounts at the co-op’s bike shop, REI co-op members receive free flat-tire repair (labor only). 

There are more than 30,000 members in the Mount Pleasant/Charleston region DMA and more than 181,000 members across South Carolina. The closest stores to the new location are Columbia, South Carolina (119 miles away); Pineville, North Carolina (204 miles away); and Greenville, South Carolina (207 miles away). 

The co-op actively partners with nonprofits across the country that create access to outdoor places and offer transformational outdoor experiences for all people. Over the last five years, the co-op has invested nearly $204,000 in South Carolina-based nonprofit partners. Recent recipients include Anne Springs Close Greenway, Conestee Foundation Inc., Friends of Harbison State Forest, Friends of Paris Mountain, Friends of Sesqui, and Palmetto Conservation Foundation. 

To celebrate the opening of REI Mount Pleasant, the co-op invested $10,000 in Charleston Waterkeepers and $10,000 in Coastal Expeditions Foundation. Two organizations will receive much needed funds from donations received during our opening events. he Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN) our pint cup partner and Sewee Center, via Friends of Coastal South Carolina, is our keep-the-mug partner. Members and customers also can contribute through direct donations and the associated contributions from membership and gift card purchases. 

In addition, the company’s public charity, the REI Cooperative Action Fund, enables employees, members, and the public to contribute to organizations that promote justice, equity and belonging in the outdoors. To learn about South Carolina’s recipients, visit the REI Cooperative Action grantee landing page.

About the REI Co-op