REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) will open its first store in Kansas in the fall of 2013 in the Overland Park suburb of Kansas City. The retail cooperative said 6,700 of its active members live in the Kansas City area, and nearly 3,700 of them reside within 15 miles of the new store.
REI Overland Park will be located at the intersection of West 135th Street and Lamar Avenue at Prairiefire at Lionsgate. The 23,500-square-foot store will offer a bike shop with expert assembly and repair services, and a seasonal gear rental department for customers to test new outdoor activities. The store will be located less than a half mile from the Overland Park store of Backwoods, an Austin-Texas based specialty retailer that sells many outdoor apparel and footwear brands. Backwoods operates nine stores across five states.
“REI Overland Park will bring our wide range of gear and apparel to customers who have previously purchased products online or by traveling long distances to other REI locations,” said Michelle Yancy, REI retail director for the Midwest district. “From biking and hiking to yoga and travel, we look forward to introducing our expertise and programs to adventurers in the Kansas City area.”
REI will hire 50 to 60 new employees for the new store.
