Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), is a national retailer providing quality outdoor gear and clothing, today announced plans to open a new store in Dublin, CA at Amador Plaza in the fall of 2011. REI will be tearing down the half-finished structure behind Circuit City and constructing a new building there. Located at the intersection of I-680 and Amador Plaza Road, the one-story, nearly 24,000 square-foot store will provide the top brands of gear and apparel for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling, snow sports, and travel. REI Dublin will offer a bike shop for quick assemblies and repairs, and a seasonal gear rental department for customers to test out new outdoor activities.

“REI has been honored to outfit outdoor enthusiasts in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1975 through our store in Berkeley,” said Tim Spangler, REI’s vice president of Retail. “The Dublin store will provide us the opportunity to bring our friendly expertise and quality outdoor products closer to the more than 42,500 active REI members that live within 15 miles of the new location.”

The company currently serves nearly 417,000 active members through 10 stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. REI operates 114 retail stores nationwide and two online stores – REI.com and REI-Outlet.com – in addition to manufacturing its own award-winning REI brand and Novara bike products.

To staff the new store, REI will recruit approximately 50 people who share a passion for the outdoors and a commitment to providing quality customer service. Hiring will occur three months prior to the opening and employment information will be available at REI.com/jobs.

Through its locally driven grants program, the company actively supports local non-profit organizations that help people experience and restore the outdoors, providing $3.7 million of grant support to non-profits last year. In the San Francisco Bay Area, REI granted $272,000 to 21 non-profit partners in 2010, including the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, East Bay Regional Park District and Save Mount Diablo. REI Dublin will also house a community space for the company and its local partners to host outdoor-related classes, presentations and events.

Although it operates as a consumer cooperative, anyone may shop at REI. Members pay a one-time $20 fee and receive a share in the company’s profits through an annual member refund based on their purchases. More than $80 million in annual refunds was distributed to more than 3.9 million active members this year based on the co-op’s 2009 sales. REI members also receive discounts on gear rentals and REI Adventures trips and REI Outdoor School classes, in addition to free shipping on purchases of $75 or more through REI.com, REI-Outlet.com and phone direct sales orders.

About REI
REI is a national outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting its members and the community for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Founded in 1938 by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI is committed to promoting environmental stewardship and increasing access to outdoor recreation through volunteerism, gear donations and financial contributions.