Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear and apparel, today announced plans to open a store in spring of 2005 in Huntington Beach, Calif. The 22,500 square-foot store will serve 45,000 active cooperative members in Orange County.
“Huntington Beach is a great outdoor community with access to beaches, Chino Hills State Park and the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains,” said REI Vice President of Real Estate Jerry Chevassus. “Bella Terra with its dining and entertainment, open air fountains, court yards and cobblestones, provides a convenient and exciting place to shop.”
The new construction store will be leased from the J.H. Snyder Company, the development manager for Huntington Center Associates. Bella Terra was formerly the Huntington Center. The renovation of the center into an open air entertainment and lifestyle center began last year.
The Huntington Beach store will be REI's sixth in the Los Angeles market. Other stores are located in Santa Ana, Arcadia, Manhattan Beach and Northridge. A store will open in Rancho Cucamonga in November 2004.
The store will employ 50 full- and part-time staff and provide REI's full line of outdoor gear and clothing for hiking, camping, climbing, cycling, paddling, snow sports and travel. It will offer top outdoor brands including REI's own gear and apparel. A gear rental department will encourage people to try outdoor sports.
