REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) recently opened its first store in New York City, aiming to help New Yorkers “incorporate the outdoors in their everyday life,” whether their way of getting out means exploring the East coast, or simply enjoying the Hudson River or Central Park, according to REI spokesperson Bethany Hawley.
The “timing was right” for REI to move into this Manhattan store, said Hawley. It is located in the historic Puck building in SoHo. Built in 1885, the Puck building is “one of the great surviving buildings of New York’s old printing and publishing district,” according to a press release. This is one of REI’s most extensive restoration projects.
The new store will make it easier for New Yorkers to experience the outdoors, said Hawley. The store will include a “bike and ski stop” on the main floor, where customers can check in their bikes, skis, or snowboards, for quick repairs. “Cycling is big for the New York market,” she said.
REI started over 70 years ago by a group of climbers and mountaineers in the Pacific Northwest. It has since expanded across the country to the East Coast. REI is one of the largest retailers in the outdoor industry, according to the company’s website.
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