Black Friday Sale? Not at REI This Thanksgiving

Outdoor sports retailer REI will close all of its stores on Black Friday this year to make a statement about getting outside.

The store is promoting #OptOutside on Twitter and asking its customers to share photos of themselves enjoying nature on Black Friday, instead of standing in line in a store. Already more than 300,000 people reportedly have said they plan to follow the store’s advice.

“REI believes that being outside makes our lives better,” the company said on its website. “That’s why this Black Friday, we’re closing all 143 of our stores and paying our employees to head outside.”

In Westchester, the store has a location in Yonkers at 49 Fitzgerald St.

Below is the note from REI President and CEO Jerry Stritzke explaining their reasoning behind the closing:

REI is closing on Black Friday.

You read that correctly. On November 27, we’ll be closing all 143 of our stores and paying our employees to head outside.

Here’s why we’re doing it.

For 76 years, our co-op has been dedicated to one thing and one thing only: a life outdoors. We believe that being outside makes our lives better. And Black Friday is the perfect time to remind ourselves of this essential truth.

We’re a different kind of company—and while the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we’ll be spending our day a little differently. We’re choosing to opt outside, and want you to come with us.

Jerry Stritzke, President, CEO

Planning on joining REI this Black Friday? Tell us your thoughts in comments section below.

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