REI Co-op is opening its first New Hampshire store in North Conway on September 27. As a gateway to outdoor adventures in the White Mountains, REI North Conway will feature a new retail experience that combines outdoor gear, guided outdoor experiences and a wide variety of equipment for rent.
Located in the Settlers Green shopping area, REI North Conway is designed to both serve the 53,000 co-op members in New Hampshire and the millions of visitors that adventure in the region every year.
“North Conway is an exciting location, as it allows us to serve our New England members in the heart of where they recreate,” said Rachel Ligtenberg, REI vice president of retail. “By combining retail, outdoor experiences and rentals all into one seamless in-store experience, REI North Conway can help every kind of adventurer get outside in the White Mountains.”
REI North Conway differs from the co-op’s traditional retail spaces in that rather than being designed for the products it sells, it is designed first to be a launching pad for outdoor activities – a place where people of all levels of expertise can gather to plan their trip, pick up rentals or a new piece of gear, or enjoy a guided outdoor experience. While most REI stores are located where members live, work and shop, REI North Conway is located closer to where they get outside and play.
Also, REI is investing $20,000 in the Mt. Washington Valley Trails Association to help construct the North Conway Recreation Path. REI has also contributed more than $200,000 over the last three years to the National Forest Foundation to support trail restoration work along the Crawford Path, the longest continuously used hiking trail in the United States
“North Conway is a community that celebrates people getting outdoors,” said Shannon Hanley, REI North Conway store manager. “We are excited to help our members and guests enjoy the wide range of activities this region has to offer, while also investing in the outdoor spaces that make this area special.”
