Rei Co-Op To Open In Sarasota, Florida In Fall 2023

REI Co-op will open a store in Sarasota, Florida in fall 2023. The location will offer a wide assortment of apparel, gear and expertise for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing and more. For those who adventure on two wheels, a full-service bike shop will be staffed by certified mechanics.

“Ten years ago, we opened our first store in Florida with a Jacksonville location. We’ve long recognized the opportunity to better serve our customers who live and play in the Sarasota area, as they have been driving an hour to our Tampa store,” said Les Hatton, REI regional director. “Incredible natural places such as Alafia State Park, Myakka River State Park, Robinson Preserve and many others offer some of the best cycling, paddling, hiking, bird watching, and outdoor activities in the state. We look forward to being a resource to the community and building lasting relationships with regional nonprofits.”

Store Facts                 

• Location: University Town Center, 161 North Cattlemen Road
• Store Size: 25,000 square feet
• Store Features: Full-service bike shop, buy online-pick up in store, curbside pickup
• REI Co-op Membership: 114,000 members in the Tampa-St. Petersburg (Sarasota) DMA and 512,000 members in Florida
• REI Stores in Florida: Tampa (56 miles away, opened 2021), Winter Park (128 miles away, opened 2017), Palm Beach Gardens (165 miles away, opened 2022), Gainesville (173 miles away, opened 2020), Boca Raton, (222 miles away, opened 2020), Jacksonville, (256 miles away, opened 2013), Tallahassee (299 miles away, opened 2022)

As the country’s largest consumer co-op, anyone is welcome to tap into the expertise of REI’s store staff  and online resources such as its Expert Advice library to learn or advance skills, plan adventures, and more. Members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits, including a used gear trade-in program called Re/Supply; discounts on shop services and experiences; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more. In addition to discounts at the co-op’s bike shop, REI members receive free flat-tire repair (labor only).

REI believes deeply in supporting the long-term health of the outdoors. The co-op has invested millions of dollars in local nonprofits to steward trails, waterways and parks and connect people to the outdoors. Over the last five years, Florida land agencies and nonprofit partners have received more than $450,000. Last year, $102,500 was distributed to 15 nonprofits across the state, including Alafia State Park, Florida State Parks Foundation and Florida Trail Association. Complementing REI’s community investments, REI’s Cooperative Action Fund invests in nonprofits to build a more equitable and inclusive outdoor community. Florida recipients include Adaptive Adventures (Tampa and Miami), Black Girls RUN! Foundation chapters throughout the state, and HBCUs Outside (Tallahassee).