gapertimmy Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Outdoor-gear giant to reside at Old Mill Published: January 26, 2005 By Cathy Carroll The Bulletin Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), the outdoor-gear retail giant, announced that in November it will open a 28,000-square-foot store occupying all of the Old Mill District's former powerhouse, the brick building with three silver smokestacks that punctuate the skyline of Bend's west side. The company will begin hiring about 55 full-time and part-time staff in September, and is expected to help drive business and boost development at The Shops at The Old Mill District center. The store will feature the new format of the company's latest stores, including the one in the upscale Pearl District of Portland, said Mike Foley, a spokesman for REI. It will rent outdoor recreation equipment including skis, snowshoes, tents and sleeping bags. It will also include a camping-stove demonstration table, a water-filter testing station and a hiking-boot test trail, Foley said. "People have been asking to open one in Bend for a while," he said. "We have 5,000 active members in Bend, which means they made purchases in last two years." The business operates as a cooperative with 2.5 million active members and 76 stores nationwide. Non-members can shop at REI, but members who pay a one-time fee of $15 receive benefits including an annual member refund on eligible purchases, Foley said. REI's business success allowed the co-op to return $41 million in refunds to its active members in 2003 and donate nearly $2 million in support of the outdoors and outdoor recreation, according to the company's Web site. The location will be more convenient for Central Oregon shoppers who previously traveled to stores in the Portland area and Eugene or ordered online from www.rei.com, and paid for shipping. People will be able to order items online and have them shipped to the Bend store for pickup at no extra cost, Foley added. The retailer offers gear for hiking, cycling, climbing, paddling and winter sports, carrying its own brand and top, national brands. REI boasts employees who are knowledgeable about the outdoors and outdoor equipment and who are friendly in helping any customer, from novice to the highly accomplished, prepare for outdoor adventures, he said. Job-seekers can apply online at www.rei.com, Foley said. Wages for part-time sales staff and cashiers range from $8 to $13 an hour. Wages for repair technicians and supervisors are higher, he said. The store will make way for development of the north end of the Old Mill shopping area, said Karen Ford, a spokeswoman for the Shops at the Old Mill. "REI has such a huge following, they will be such a big draw and can't help but be a big thing for all the other shops on that side," she said. The center is in its second phase of development. Two new buildings are under construction next to the Red Robin and Greg's Grill, an 8,400-square-foot steak house, is scheduled to open at the end of the summer. Regal Cinema plans to build an addition for about 10 new screens and more property is to be developed between the powerhouse and Bond Street. "I don't know when it will be built," Ford said. "We are looking for the right mix of tenants. We are working with a land specialist on the best way to add on that will fit with the design of the existing center." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harkin_Banks Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Finally, the good residents of Bend, Oregon will have their choice of 30 different sport sandals over $50, and access to the entire Toblerone line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 The colored nalgene bottle index was getting a touch low in the Bend area. It's good to see they are proactively attacking this issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 In other news Bend has officially begun petitioning Metro for inclusion in the Portland metropolitan area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glassgowkiss Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 i am sure the biggest sales will be golf clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanOutThere Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 i'm sure mtn. supply and redpoint will take a big hit... i bet the owners of both of those long established bend gear stores are already plotting their acts of terrorism against REI.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Yes I fear REI will corner the market on all static-coffee-mug-test-strength carabiners, including those shaped like hearts. And dogbones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyHarry Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Bendites won't have to drive all the way to Portland to Return and Exchange all their gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweatinoutliquor Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Are you saying that I'm not supposed to use the dog bone shaped carabiners for sport routes? Boy have I been doing it all wrong... And to think that I just finished updating all my quickdraws... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Is that not like the biggest fucking Walmart like move ever or what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj001f Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 i'm sure mtn. supply and redpoint will take a big hit... i bet the owners of both of those long established bend gear stores are already plotting their acts of terrorism against REI.... REI sells climbing gear I'm waiting for the first Starbucks inside a REI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglehead Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 REI sells climbing gear I'm waiting for the first Starbucks inside a REI Wow. I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. I'm such an idiot. If I would have bought a house when I lived in Bend I'd have made a killing. But nooo, I'm an idiot. Okay, I'm finished with my pity party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squid Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Bendites won't have to drive all the way to Portland to Return and Exchange all their gear. Exactly! Now my climbing trips can last longer as I exchange booty-gear for food. If only I could exchange used nuts for beer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minx Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 REI sells climbing gear I'm waiting for the first Starbucks inside a REI Wow. I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. I'm such an idiot. If I would have bought a house when I lived in Bend I'd have made a killing. But nooo, I'm an idiot. Okay, I'm finished with my pity party. it's not "in" the REI per se, but i found that there is a starbucks drive thru conveniently located right across the parking lot from the b'ham REI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialed Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 I'm waiting for the first Starbucks inside a REI They should have atleast two in each store. Up to five depending on the size of the REI. That way REI shoppers, like Seattleites, will never be too far away from a double vanilla skim latte with a twist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harkin_Banks Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 isn't everything "right across the parking lot" in bellingham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texplorer Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 True Story A friend of mine went into a REI last year wanting to buy some Muira climbing shoes. Upon seeing that they had none in the store he asked one of the "knowledgeable outdoor professionals" about ordering the shoe. They told him that they couldn't order one for him since they have decided to stop selling high end climbing gear. Amazing that a company started by climbers for climbers is now not even for climbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweatinoutliquor Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Why would you ever want high end climbing gear? Doesn't that stuff cost all sorts of money? I prefer to use homemade stuff made out of popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and glitter. It's cheap, fun to make, and for some reason everyone must like it cause they point at me when I'm on the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaper_Jeffy Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 I think this is great news! I LUV REI! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couloir Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 Amazing that a company started by climbers for climbers is now not even for climbers. VERY good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbw1966 Posted January 28, 2005 Share Posted January 28, 2005 If only I could exchange used nuts for beer.... Those guys in Seattle won't even buy you a beer when you're done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nordicpunk Posted January 29, 2005 Share Posted January 29, 2005 REI in Denver has a starbucks in the bottom. This is perfect for Bend. I've never seen more yuppies in one place before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ducknut Posted February 4, 2005 Share Posted February 4, 2005 "knowledgable outdoor professionals coming to bend" Wanna bet that none of those knowledgable outdoor professionals" will either work or visit REI? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike1 Posted February 5, 2005 Share Posted February 5, 2005 REI used to be the shit! Started by climbers for climbers... then they hired a marketer.... I'm betting the fly fishing section will take off. It would prolly adversely affect the small businesses like Red Point. SUPPORT YOUR SMALL BUSINESS AND COFFEE STAND!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kit Posted February 14, 2005 Share Posted February 14, 2005 I wrote a letter to REI today. Other members should do the same. It is OUR store, after all. A co-op. Here's my letter: I heard that REI is opening a store in Bend, Oregon. I am very disappointed. I have been an REI member for close to ten years, and while I like our store, I am disappointed to see what its growth is capable of doing. I joined REI when I lived in Spokane, where I grew up, because the only places to get high-quality outdoor equipment were at REI and Mountain Gear. However, I moved to Bellingham, Washington from 1995 to 1998. I loved the variety of small shops there like Base Camp, Great Adventure, and American Alpine Institute. Since the REI store has opened there, I think the only other surviving shop that sells comparable high-quality outdoor gear is AAI, which only carries the very high-end mountaineering gear. The REI store there languishes in its strip-mall solitude. Bend, Oregon is a mecca of recreational opportunity. Local business like Mountain Supply, Pine Mountain Sports, Redpoint, and others have sprung up and thrived through the years in the effort to meet the town’s demand for gear. There is almost nothing that REI sells that can’t already be found in Bend’s great shops. I know this and I don’t even live there; I just travel there to play. REI was founded in Seattle “BECAUSE (high quality) GEAR COULD NOT BE FOUND LOCALLY.” It says so right on our website. I am a member who will speak loudly against a store in Bend. How many other REI members feel the same? Just because 5000 members live in Bend doesn’t mean they all want a store there. I like REI and what it stands for, but I cringe to be a part of the Wal-Martization of another great western town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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