REI Co-op to open new store in Orland Park, Illinois in fall 2021

REI Co-op will open a new store in the Village of Orland Park, Illinois in fall 2021, bringing a wide assortment of quality gear, experiences, and expertise for the region's most popular outdoor activities. Located at 15515 South 95th Avenue, the new 20,000 square-foot store will offer a specialty bike and Nordic ski shop for customers to tune or repair equipment. With nearly 535,000 lifetime REI members in the state, REI Orland Park will be the co-op's fifth location in Illinois.

"The Village of Orland Park offers many wonderful locations to play outdoors through green spaces, trails and waterways. We look forward to becoming an active part of the community by serving as a resource to residents' and visitors' active lifestyles and investing in natural spaces that are so important for everyone's health and wellness," said Michelle Yancy, REI regional director for the Midwest region.

REI Orland Park will also offer a range of classes and guided outdoor experiences to connect people to a life outdoors. Year-round and seasonal programming will be similar to the co-op's offerings at its existing stores in the region. Popular day tours and events have included hikes to iconic locations, paddling the Chicago River and Saganashkee Slough, and outdoor skills including navigation and survival.* A national leader in outdoor experiences, REI helps more than 300,000 people across the country get outside on average each year.

REI has been part of the Illinois outdoor community for nearly three decades, opening its first store in 1991. In addition to offering quality gear, expertise and experiences, REI actively works with nonprofits across the country to steward and maintain local trails and public lands and connect people to the outdoors. 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. Since 2018, REI has invested over $320,000 in local outdoor nonprofits in Illinois. This investment included funds for the Friends of Big Marsh, Active Transportation Alliance Friends of the Chicago River, Forest Preserve Foundation and Friends of Forest Preserves. As REI gets closer to opening in Orland Park, the co-op 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 more than 45 employees for the Orland Park 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, 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.

*Due to the coronavirus pandemic, REI local experiences are limited at this time across Illinois and the country. Please check https://www.rei.com/events for the latest details.

Store facts

• Address: 15515 South 95th Avenue
• Square footage: 20,000 square feet
• Open date: Fall 2021
• Special features: Bike shop, Nordic ski shop
• REI Co-op membership: Nearly 535,000 lifetime members in Illinois
• Other Illinois stores: Lincoln Park (opened 2008, relocated 2019), Northbrook (opened 2007), Oakbrook Terrace (opened 1994), Vernon Hills (opened 2018)
• REI's first Illinois store opened in Niles in 1991. It relocated to Northbrook in 2007

About the REI Co-op