Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) said it plans to open a new store in Summerlin, Nev. at Boca Park this fall.


The 28,000-square-foot, one-story store will be located at the intersection of West Charleston and South Rampart Boulevards. Summerlin joins another store in Henderson, Nev. in serving more than 14,000 active members within the Las Vegas area. REI opened its first store in Nevada in 1999, when the company opened a store in Reno.


“With our current customer base and the overall growth in the Las Vegas community, it is only natural for us to increase our presence in this area. Summerlin is a natural choice due to its proximity to recreational opportunities and its high population of outdoor enthusiasts,” said Doug Schmidt, REI retail director for the Southwest district. “Whether people are interested in climbing at Red Rock, outfitting their children with their first bike or learning a new activity, we're excited to be a resource to help connect others to more adventures in the outdoors.”

In 2007, the co-op provided $20,000 of support to four nonprofit partners in the Las Vegas area, including the Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Friends of Red Rock Canyon, Camp Cartwheel (Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation) and Southern Nevada Regional Trails Partnership. In addition, the co-op helped organize eight conservation and restoration projects in the area with nearly 400 volunteers, who gave 1,745 hours of service in the past year.


Hiring clinics will occur approximately two months prior to the store's opening and the co-op will recruit approximately 60 employees for the new store.