REI Co-op will open a new store in Tampa, FL, in spring 2021. The new 22,500-square-foot store will be located at Midtown Tampa, an entirely new district that will connect the city’s Westshore and Downtown neighborhoods in early 2021.
REI Tampa will also offer a specialty bike shop for customers to take advantage of maintenance and repair services.
“Tampa is an incredible community to continue our mission to connect local REI members to the outdoor places and activities they love,” said Gail Kirkland, REI regional director for the south. “Whether our members are paddling the Hillsborough River or taking a short walk from our store along The Watercourse, we can help them prepare for any kind of adventure.”
REI Tampa will offer a range of programs to connect people to a life outdoors. A national leader in outdoor experiences and education, last year, the co-op helped more than 350,000 people across the country get outside and be inspired to lead an active lifestyle through a wide range of classes, tours and events.
Midtown Tampa will feature the 3-acre Midtown Lake and The Watercourse, a recreational trail to encourage visitors to get outside. In addition, Midtown Tampa’s walkable design, with four acres of common public space such as Midtown Commons, a central gathering space for festivals, concerts, yoga in the park, and cross-fit stations, will offer multiple opportunities for community connections.
“Midtown is creating a unifying place for hospitality, living, working and shopping designed around four acres of common public spaces,” said Nicholas Haines, Bromley Companies CEO. “REI has been part of our vision for Midtown since the beginning and joins our growing list of first-to-market retailers that will make Midtown a much-sought-after destination experience.”
More than 300,000 lifetime REI members live in Florida. This year, REI is investing $140,000 in Florida-based outdoor nonprofits including the Florida Trail Association and the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association’s Florida Chapter. As REI gets closer to opening in Tampa, the co-op plans to invest further in the local outdoor community.
