REI Co-Op Opens New Store At Midtown Tampa

TAMPA, FL — REI Co-op is celebrating the opening of its new 23,000-square-foot store in Tampa, offering an assortment of outdoor gear for hiking, camping and paddling supplies.

The new 23,000-square-foot store at Midtown Tampa, 1152 Assembly Drive, open Friday, offering Buy Online, Pickup In Store capabilities and zero-contact bike shop services.

“We are thrilled to join the community in Tampa and to better connect our local members to the places and activities they love,” said Cindy Smith, REI Tampa store manager. “Whether trying paddling for the first time or heading out on a familiar trail, we’ll have the gear and expertise our members need to get outside.”

In lieu of in-person grand opening events or giveaways, the community is invited to celebrate the store virtually. Customers can visit the Tampa store page for updates. In addition, REI plans to invest $10,000 in two local outdoor nonprofits through a $5,000 grant to the Friends of Alafia and the Florida State Parks to support Hillsborough River State Park.

REI has been part of the Florida outdoor community since opening its Jacksonville store in 2013, followed by Winter Park in 2017, Gainesville in 2020 and Boca Raton in 2020. The co-op now has nearly 325,000 lifetime members in Florida.

In 2019, REI invested more than $140,000 in local outdoor nonprofits in Florida.

REI Tampa is open for in-store shopping with health and safety protocols in place designed to maintain physical distance between customers and employees. This includes:

• Operating on a reduced schedule and limiting the number of people in store. REI Tampa will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Customers may be asked to wait in line outside the store to ensure proper distancing.
• Requiring employees and customers over the age of 2 to wear face coverings that align with CDC guidance. Disposable face coverings will be available for those who don’t have them.
• Socially distanced queuing at store entrances, footwear, cash registers and shop counters.
• Plexiglass shields at all registers.
• Enhanced cleaning procedures with thorough, frequent cleanings of high-touch surface areas.

To help minimize wait times, customers are encouraged to plan ahead for the products they need. In addition to connecting with experts in store, REI’s Expert Advice series offers numerous resources for customers and members to learn new skills, choose the right gear and prepare for outdoor adventures.

In addition, customers may schedule virtual outfitting appointments online to receive personalized, one-on-one service for things like hiking boot and running shoe fittings, cycling outfitting, and camping and backpacking outfitting from home.

REI also offers virtual events to connect people to the outdoors.

REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company, a global leader that runs more than 200 itineraries across all continents. In every community where REI has a presence, professionally trained instructors share their expertise by hosting beginner- to advanced-level classes and workshops about a wide range of activities.

See related story: Outdoor Recreation Store, 3 Restaurants Sign On To Midtown Tampa