SHOPPERS are mourning a popular outdoor equipment and clothing store that is set to close a long-time location in one state in just days.
Climbers, hikers, and campers in Santa Monica, California, will have to find a new store for all their gear as REI is closing its staple location in the city at the end of February.
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The store closure, first reported by the Los Angeles Times, comes just weeks after the outdoor retail giant closed another major location in Portland, Oregon.
The Santa Monica store is reportedly set to shut its doors at 6 pm on February 29.
It first opened in 2006 and has been a favorite of many shoppers in the area.
The news of its closure left many upset on social media.
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“Such a major bummer!” one customer wrote on Facebook.
“Another one bites the dust!” another person said.
“I’ve never been into one. It’s sad though, when any business, has to close,” a third shopper said.
However, REI fans don’t have to worry too much as the retailer recently opened another location in September 2023 in Marina del Rey – less than five miles south of Santa Monica.
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Some shoppers who have already visited the new location have raved about the store.
“The new store in MDR is fabulous! Smart employees who are trained to actually know their merchandise. If you’re looking for outdoor clothing and gear, that’s the place to go for ideas, info, and terrific outdoor clothing options,” one shopper wrote.
“Their shop in Manhattan Beach is great too. Biking, camping, skiing, etc - they’ve got the gear and clothes to help outfit you.”
Since it was founded in 1938, REI has amassed 23 million lifetime members and around 181 locations across the United States.
In December, REI revealed that the Santa Monica store closure was connected to a shift in needs for their customers and business.
“The decision to close was not made lightly, but after consideration to the positive impact of the store, our market presence, and external factors,” spokeswoman Megan Behrbaum told Santa Monica Daily Press at the time.
“While Santa Monica remains a destination for locals and visitors alike, the needs of our customers and business have shifted over the nearly two decades that we’ve served this community. The overall operating environment has also changed and the cost to do business.”
It was not immediately clear if growing retail theft was also connected to the closure of the long-time location, as the company previously cited rampant crime as one of the reasons behind the closure of the Portland store.
At the time, the company pointed to increased crime within Portland alone, including break-ins and thefts at the REI location.
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While the retail giant had increased its security efforts, the company said it outgrew the location and was unable to “provide the level of customer and employee experience we strive for at REI.”
REI did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
