REI Co-op to open new store at Uptown Boca in Boca Raton, Florida on November 13, invest $10,000 in local community

SEATTLE – REI Co-op will open its new store in Boca Raton, Florida on November 13, offering a wide assortment of quality outdoor gear for hiking, camping, paddling and more. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the new 23,000-square-foot store at the Uptown Boca lifestyle center will also offer Buy Online, Pickup In Store capabilities and zero-contact bike shop services. With nearly 325,000 lifetime members in state, REI Boca Raton will join the co-op’s three Florida stores including Jacksonville, Winter Park and its newly opened Gainesville location. In addition, REI plans to open an additional store in Tampa in 2021.

“Boca Raton is an incredible community with access to some of the country’s most scenic beaches,” said Colleen Larkin, REI Boca Raton store manager. “In addition to connecting our local members to the many outdoor activities, we also look forward to investing in the places that make this region special.”

In lieu of in-person grand opening events or giveaways, the community is invited to celebrate the store virtually. Customers can visit the Boca Raton store page for updates. In addition, REI plans to invest $10,000 in local outdoor nonprofits, through a $5,000 grant to the Florida State Parks Foundation and a second grant to be announced at a later date. REI has been part of the Florida outdoor community since first opening its Jacksonville store in 2013,. In 2019, REI invested more than $140,000 in local outdoor nonprofits in Florida. Each year, REI invests millions of dollars in nonprofits across the country that steward and maintain local trails, parks and public lands and connect people to the outdoors.

REI Boca Raton will be open for in-store shopping with several health and safety protocols in place designed to maintain physical distance between customers and employees. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Operating on a reduced schedule and limiting the number of people in store. REI Boca Raton will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Customers may be asked to wait in line outside of the store to ensure proper distancing.
• Requiring employees and customers over the age of two to wear face coverings that align with CDC guidance. Disposable face coverings will be available for those who don’t have them.
• Socially distanced queuing at store entrances, footwear, cash registers and shop counters.
• Plexiglass shields at all registers.
• Enhanced cleaning procedures with thorough, frequent cleanings of high-touch surface areas.

To help minimize wait times, customers are encouraged to plan ahead for the products they need. In addition to connecting with experts in store, REI’s Expert Advice series offers numerous resources for customers and members to learn new skills, choose the right gear and prepare for outdoor adventures. In addition, customers may schedule virtual outfitting appointments online to receive personalized, one-on-one service for things like hiking boot and running shoe fittings, cycling outfitting, and camping and backpacking outfitting from home. REI also offers virtual events to connect people to the outdoors.

Editor’s note: For images of REI in-store shopping and safety protocols, click here. To download b-roll footage, click here.

Boca Raton store facts:

• Location: Uptown Boca, 9560 Glades Road, Suite 165
• Store hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday
• Size: 23,000 square feet
• Special features and services: Bike shop with zero contact shop services; Buy Online, Pick Up In Store; virtual events and outfitting
• Number of employees: 52
• REI membership: Nearly 325,000 co-op members in Florida
• Existing Florida REI stores: Jacksonville (opened 2013), Winter Park (opened 2017), Gainesville (opened 2020)
• Future Florida REI stores: Tampa (opens 2021)

About the REI Co-op

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 19 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 167 locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company, a global leader that runs more than 250 itineraries across all continents. In every community where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner-to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.

About Uptown Boca

Uptown Boca is the first new retail and Class-A multifamily development lifestyle center to open in west Boca Raton in over 20 years. The 38-acre project brings 179,000 square feet of retail space and 456 Class-A luxury rental apartments for a “shop, dine, live” experience. The development provides walkability to dining, entertainment and living options all within one vibrant local destination. Uptown Boca is located at 9560 Glades Road on the corner of Glades Road and 95th Avenue South, just east of US441/SR7. The property is being developed by Giles Capital Group, Rosemurgy Properties and Schmier Properties in partnership with Wheelock Street Capital. For more information, please visit https://uptownboca.com/.

About the REI Co-op