REI Co-op to open new store in Kalispell, Montana in fall 2018

New store will feature a specialty ski and snowboard shop and free or low-cost ski, snowboard, biking and camping classes through REI Outdoor School

Apr 3, 2018

SEATTLE – This fall, outdoor co-op REI will open a new store in Kalispell, Montana, offering a wide assortment of quality gear, experiences and expertise to local members and thousands of visitors. Known as the gateway to Glacier National Park, Kalispell is located less than 35 miles from the west entrance of the park. Kalispell also offers a variety of year-round outdoor activities in nearby Flathead Lake and White Fish Mountain Resort on Big Mountain, making it a natural fit for REI growth.

“We are thrilled to be adding our third store in the state of Montana and joining the community of Kalispell,” said Julie Lochner, REI retail director for the mountain district. “This new location will allow us to connect more than 63,000 active members in Montana, and even more visitors, with incredible outdoor places right around the corner from our new store, like Glacier National Park.”

REI Kalispell will be located at the southwest corner of Old Reserve Drive and U.S. Highway 93, just south of Costco. The nearly 20,000 square-foot store will carry quality gear and apparel for the most popular outdoor activities in the area, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking and paddling. The store will offer a ski and snowboard shop to provide maintenance and repairs from highly trained experts. REI Kalispell marks the co-op’s third store in the state, joining stores in Missoula (117 miles away) and Bozeman (308 miles away).

REI Kalispell will also be home to REI Outdoor School, which will host free and low-cost, in-store classes and events on cycling, hiking, camping, and more. As a national leader in outdoor education, REI Outdoor School’s expert instructors taught over 375,000 people across the country last year.

In addition to providing the best outdoor gear and expert advice, REI actively works with nonprofits across the country to protect and invest in outdoor recreation and wild places. Since opening its first store in Missoula in 2000, REI has invested $750,000 in Montana’s outdoor community. In 2017, REI invested $32,000 in Montana-based nonprofits. The co-op has longstanding partnerships with the Montana Conservation Corps, Gallatin Valley Land Trust and Clark Fork Coalition, as well as Glacier National Park Conservancy and Montana Wilderness Association.

Join the REI team

Candidates interested in joining the REI team at any local store can apply online at rei.jobs. This summer, the co-op expects to hire over 30 employees at the new store in Kalispell, who will receive a variety of benefits, including generous product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions. For 21 consecutive years, REI has been recognized as one of Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.”

Store facts:

  • Address: 2270 U.S. Highway 93 North
  • Square footage: 20,000 square feet
  • Special features: Ski and snowboard shop
  • Open date: Fall 2018
  • Montana Membership: Over 63,000 active members, learn more at REI.com/membership.

About the REI Co-op

REI is a specialty outdoor retailer, headquartered near Seattle. The nation’s largest consumer co-op, REI is a growing community of 23 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 184 locations in 42 states and the District of Columbia. If you can’t visit a store, you can shop at REI.com, REI Outlet or the REI shopping app. REI isn’t just about gear. Adventurers can take the trip of a lifetime with REI’s active adventure travel company that runs more than 100 itineraries across the country. In many communities 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. To build on the infrastructure that makes life outside possible, REI invests millions annually in hundreds of local and national nonprofits that create access to—and steward—the outdoor places that inspire us all.