REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc plans to open a new store in Santa Barbara, CA and relocate its current location in Santa Ana, Calif. to The Market Place in Tustin, CA.


“This announcement reflects our commitment to expanding our presence in southern California and offering our members and customers more ways to get outside,” said Greg Mellinger, REI retail director for Southern California.

 

The new 24,500-square-foot REI in Santa Barbara will be located off of U.S. Highway 101 between Anacapa and State Streets and open in the fall of 2011. The relocation of REI’s current store at McFadden Place in Santa Ana to The Market Place in Tustin will increase the store’s size from nearly 25,000 to 33,500 square-feet. Opening this fall, the larger location will allow REI to increase its current product assortment by approximately 30 percent. Owned by Irvine Company, The Market Place is located off the Santa Ana Freeway and Jamboree Road.

“Moving three miles away allows us to provide our current customers more room to shop and a wider selection of gear and apparel to choose from,” said Steve Eaton, REI Santa Ana store manager. “We are also thrilled to offer our local partners the opportunity to host events, classes and presentations for large groups in our new community room.”


REI partners with local organizations that help people experience and conserve the outdoors through education, volunteerism and its grants program. This year, the co-op provided $160,000 in grant funding to 16 non-profit partners in the Los Angeles area. Examples of these organizations include the Audubon Center at Debs Park, Inside the Outdoors Foundation, Los Angeles Outward Bound and Trails4All.


There are currently 257,000 active co-op members within the Los Angeles area and 7,900 active members within the Santa Barbara area. The new stores will join additional locations in Arcadia, Huntington Beach, Manhattan Beach, Northridge, Rancho Cucamonga and Santa Monica. REI currently has 112 stores nationwide and 26 stores in California.


REI will hire approximately 40 to 50 new employees for the new Santa Barbara store and approximately 25 additional employees for the larger Tustin location. The co-op recruits candidates that share a passion for the outdoors and quality customer service. More information about employment opportunities will be available at www.rei.com/jobs.