REI closed its store in Brentwood, CA Feb. 7, citing poor sales, marking the first time the retailer has closed a store for underperforming since 2001.
REI customers in Brentwood will now have to travel approximately 27 miles west to Stockton or 25 miles east to Concord to visit an REI store. The Brentwood store had been open for five years.
“This business decision does not reflect the hard work of our employees,” the Kent, WA-based outdoor specialty retailer said in a statement released to the media. “Our staff tried very hard, but the store simply didn’t generate enough revenue.”
REI shared the news with employees Friday and is working to relocate the store's full-time employees to other local stores. The company said it would pay all employees of its Brentwood-Antioch store through the end of February and those eligible for severance will receive it. It also notified the store's customers via email of the closing. The company has no plans to close any other stores at this time, a company spokesman said.
The Bay Area remains REI’s largest single market with 500,000 members and nine retail stores. The retailer continues to operate 15 stores in Northern California and has announced plans to open seven new stores in 2014.
