REI Co-op plans to open 10 new stores this year, the outdoor retailer said on Wednesday.
Plans are set for locations to open in Beavercreek, Ohio, and Beaverton, Oregon, this spring. More to come in Glendale, Arizona; Ithaca, New York; and Rancho Mirage, California, this summer. And this fall, stores will open in Albany, New York, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Three others will be announced as contracts are finalized.
Next year, the retailer already has plans to also open two stores, in St. George, Utah, and Durango, Colorado, per a company press release.
The company said it expects to hire about 50 employees at each location, and touted its commitment “to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that enables a life outdoors for everyone” and benefits including product and service discounts, “competitive pay and retirement contributions,” and days off to enjoy outside activities, including on Black Friday. For years, REI has shuttered on the holiday shopping day as part of its #OptOutside campaign.
In keeping with its progressive reputation, REI said it “seeks candidates who demonstrate shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism,” per the release. However, experts say that the retailer’s actions toward its unionized employees and resistance to unionization at its stores may be tarnishing that image to some extent.
