REI to Relocate West Hartford Store to Provide Easier Access, Improved Store Experience to Local Members

SEATTLE – REI, the local outdoor co-op with more than 15,000 active members in the West Hartford area, will relocate its West Hartford store to provide adventurers with an improved store experience and easier access to quality gear and expert advice. Located at Corbins Corner Shopping Center near Interstate 84—just three miles from the existing location—the new store will open in the spring of 2018, pending the city’s approval of the project.

“We know the West Hartford community is passionate about getting outside, which is why it was our first store in the state nearly a decade ago. Since then, we’ve seen the outdoor community grow and felt we could make it easier for our members to get geared up for their adventures at this new location. We look forward to 2018 when everyone—our employees, members and nonprofit partners—can come experience this new hub for the outdoor community,” said Kurt Feilke, REI retail director for the Northeast district.

The new 25,000 square foot store will carry the best gear and apparel for the most popular outdoor activities in the area, and a bike and ski shop for maintenance and repairs. The store will continue to offer outdoor experiences through REI Outdoor School, with upcoming events such as Ski/Snowboard Waxing Basics, Cross-Country Skiing Class and Winter Camping Basics.

Relocating the West Hartford store is part of the co-op’s plan to continue to serve the growing outdoor community in Connecticut, including the more than 32,000 active members throughout the region. In October 2016, REI opened its third store in the state in Milford, which followed the opening of REI Norwalk in 2010.

Since the co-op first came to West Hartford in 2007, REI has supported the impactful work of local nonprofit organizations. In 2016, REI invested $20,000 in four nonprofits throughout the state, including Ragged Mountain Foundation, Riverfront Recapture, Farmington Valley Trails Council, and the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Trail Committee. To celebrate the opening of the new Milford store, REI recently invested an additional $15,000 in Sleeping Giant Park Association and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, bringing the total to $35,000 invested in six local nonprofits this year.

About REI

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of more than 6 million active members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 149 stores in 36 states. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI.com/REI-Garage or the free REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. You can take the trip of a lifetime with REI Adventures, a global leader in active adventure travel that runs 170 custom-designed itineraries on every continent. REI’s Outdoor School is run by professionally-trained, expert-instructors who teach beginner- to advanced-level courses 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.

About the REI Co-op