REI Co-op to open first Vermont store in Williston in fall 2019

SEATTLE – REI Co-op is opening its first location in Vermont this fall, bringing a wide assortment of quality gear, equipment rentals, experiences and expertise for the region’s most popular outdoor activities to Williston. The new 31,000-square-foot store will be located at Taft Corners Shopping Center, less than a one-hour drive from world-class recreation opportunities in Mount Mansfield State Forest and Camel’s Hump State Park. REI Williston will also offer a specialty bike, ski and snowboard shop for customers who need tuning or repair services before venturing to the mountains.

“Vermont is home to some of the best skiing and hiking opportunities in the Northeast, and we are excited to provide our members with the gear and expertise they need to get out and enjoy the activities they love,” says Becky Smith, REI retail director for the Northeast. “Our new store is conveniently located between Burlington and some of the most iconic outdoor spaces in the state, allowing our members to pick up new gear or rental equipment as they head outside.”

The new store in Williston comes as the co-op is expanding its footprint in the Northeast. With over 31,000 members in Vermont, the closest REI store is currently more than 200 miles away in Boston. REI Williston will join eight other stores in New England and REI’s first-ever experience center in North Conway, New Hampshire, which is also scheduled to open in fall 2019.

In addition to gear and rentals, REI Williston will offer workshops and guided outdoor experiences to connect people to a life outdoors. A national leader in outdoor experiences, REI helped more than 350,000 people across the country get outside last year.

REI is a member-owned co-op offering top quality gear, expertise and outdoor programs to connect people to a life outdoors. While anyone may shop at REI, members pay a lifetime $20 membership and share in the company’s profits through an annual dividend. In addition, REI actively works with nonprofits across the country to steward and maintain local trails and public lands and connect people to the outdoors. Since 2002, REI has invested $83,000 in outdoor nonprofits in Vermont, including funds for stewardship efforts along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a 740-mile paddle route that spans from New York to Maine. As REI gets closer to opening in Williston, REI plans to invest further in the local outdoor community.

Join the REI team

Candidates interested in joining the REI team at any local store can apply online at REI.com/jobs.  REI expects to hire up to 45 employees for the Williston location. New employees will receive a wide variety of benefits, including generous product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions. REI employees also enjoy unique perks, like two paid “Yay Days” that allow them to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity and an additional paid day off on Black Friday to #OptOutside with family and friends. REI has been recognized as one of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” for 22 consecutive years.

Store facts

• Address: 244 Retail Way (approximate)
• Square footage: 31,000 square feet
• Open date: Fall 2019
• Special features: Bike shop, ski and snowboard shop; gear rentals
• REI Co-op membership: Over 31,000 lifetime members in Vermont

About the REI Co-op