REI Co-op to hold grand opening celebration in Durango, CO on August 22-23

REI Co-op officially opens its new Durango, CO store on August 22 and invites the community to a two-day celebration with giveaways, brand activations, outdoor socials, music and more.  

The new store is located just off Highway 550 on Turner Drive via Frontage Road. The 22,000 square foot space will offer a wide assortment of gear and apparel for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, climbing, snow sports, and more. For those who love cycling and snow sports, certified mechanics will be available to help tune and repair gear at the full-service bike, ski and snowboard shop. 

“Our team of 43 employees is excited to bring their local knowledge to REI and be a part of Durango's vibrant outdoor community,” says REI Durango store manager Meghan Wyrwich. “We are committed to building strong partnerships that reflect and strengthen our shared outdoor values. Together, I believe we can create meaningful experiences and make a lasting impact in this amazing place we all call home.” 

Doors open at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday for the grand opening celebrations. An outdoor social is scheduled both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring giveaways, music, brand activations, and more. There will also be free coffee from Easy Coffee Roasters (affectionately known as 81301) for customers who join the morning activities. Exclusive Hydro Flask camp mugs will be available with a donation to a nonprofit being announced soon.  

Brands attending the weekend’s event include Aero Press, Altra, Alter Eco, Backpacker’s Pantry, Black Diamond Equipment, Dometic, ENO Hammocks, Gregory Mountain Products, Hydro Flask, NEMO Equipment, Nikwax, Oboz Footwear, OOFOS, Osprey, Peak Refuel, Rivian, Saucony, Sea to Summit, Skratch Labs, Smartwool, Tailwind Nutrition, UMBO and more. Daily giveaways will be available, while supplies last.  

The REI Cooperative Action Fund will present a $20,000 grant to Montezuma Land Conservancy (MLC) as part of the grand opening celebration. MLC has led community-centered conservation efforts since its establishment in 1998 and began cross-cultural programming in and around the southwest Colorado community in 2016. To date, MLC has worked with more than 75 families to conserve nearly 50,000 acres. In 2021, MLC began their partnership with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to build relationships with the Tribal community and increase understanding and application of Indigenous perspectives in their conservation and lands work. Focal areas of this work include the Traditional Harvest Project, the Fall Event, and Youth & Community Engagement. For more information on MLC, visit their website at www.montezumaland.org. 

REI is the country’s largest consumer co-op. Everyone is welcome to shop, participate in classes, and learn from REI’s expertise. Co-op members enjoy an even wider range of benefits, including an annual member reward of 10% back on eligible purchases, free U.S. standard shipping, member coupons and discounts, free machine ski wax services, a used gear trade-in program, and more.  

The Durango area already has nearly 9,000 co-op members, with approximately 2.2 million members in Colorado. The closest REI is Grand Junction, 130 miles away. The store doors in Durango will open on July 25 for a soft opening for employees to finalize the store and train. The grand opening starts at 10am on August 22. 

New members join a growing community that fights for a life outside. With each new membership purchased, the co-op donates $5 to support the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a community-driven nonprofit that supports nonprofits across the country doing essential work in making the outdoors more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Since its inception in 2021, the REI Fund has invested a combined $2 million in Colorado and New Mexico nonprofits. A full list of REI Fund grantees can be found on www.reifund.org. 

About the REI Co-op