REI will enter the Knoxville, TN market in the fall of 2014 with a store at Papermill Plaza, about an hour north of the Gatlinburg gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The 23,500-square-foot Knoxville store will be located at the northeast corner of Papermill Drive and Kingston Pike Road.
REI Knoxville is the co-op’s second location in Tennessee, joining a store in Brentwood. There are currently nearly 4,000 REI members in the Knoxville area.
The retailer will hire approximately 50 new employees for the new store. “As an outdoor retailer, REI is committed to inspiring and educating people to lead active lifestyles,” said Gail Kirkland, REI retail director for the South district. “Our expertise, programming and products will enhance anyone’s trips to explore outdoor places, like Great Smoky Mountains National Park.”
