SEATTLE – Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op will open a new store in Laguna Hills, California in fall 2023. The location will offer a wide assortment of apparel, gear and expertise for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing, snow sports and more. For those who adventure on two wheels, a full-service bike shop will be staffed by certified mechanics. The store will also have a ski and snowboard shop with professional tuning, waxing and repairs.
“REI first came to the Los Angeles area in 1977 through our original Manhattan Beach location, which was our fourth store in our history,” said Steve Lochan, REI’s divisional vice president of retail. “Once open, REI Laguna Hills will be our 12th store in the market to better serve our 1.7 million members and the greater outdoor community who live, work and play in the southern end of Los Angeles.”
Store Facts
- Address: Oakbrook Village; 24271 Avenida De La Carlota, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
- Store Size: Approximately 33,000 square feet
- Special Features: Full-service bike shop and ski and snowboard shop, buy online-pick up in store, curbside pickup
- REI Co-op Membership: 4.6 million members in California, 1.7 million in the Los Angeles DMA
- Closest REI Stores: Tustin (10 miles away, opened 1982, relocated 2010); Huntington Beach (20 miles away, opened 2005); Manhattan Beach (47 miles away, opened 1977, relocated 1999); Rancho Cucamonga (47 miles away, opened 2004); Santa Monica (60 miles away, opened 2006)
- Current REI Presence in California: 30 stores in state, of which 11 stores are in Los Angeles metro area
As the country’s largest consumer co-op, anyone is welcome to tap into REI’s expertise in support of an active lifestyle. Members who join the co-op enjoy a range of benefits, including a used gear trade-in program; discounts on experiences, rentals and shop services; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; and more. In addition to discounts at the bike and ski shop, REI co-op members receive unlimited free machine waxes and free flat-tire repair (labor only).
REI actively partners with nonprofits across the nation to steward and maintain local trails and public lands to connect more people to the outdoors. Last year, the co-op invested $7.1 million in 450+ nonprofits across the country, of which more than $1.2 million went to 75 nonprofits in California. Los Angeles-area recipients included California State Parks Foundation, Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (CORBA), Hike Clerb, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, ForestWatch, Mount Wilson Bicycling Association, Nature for All, Santa Catalina Island Conservancy, Santa Monica Mountains Fund, and United States Adaptive Recreation Center.
The co-op launched the REI Cooperative Action Fund last year, a community-supported public charity designed to harness the collective power of the co-op’s members and employees to build a more just, equitable and inclusive outdoor culture. To learn about the California recipients since the Fund’s inception, visit here.
Beyond its retail presence, REI Experiences help residents and visitors connect to the region’s natural places through fully guided outdoor tours, workshops and events. Over the last five years, the co-op has hosted nearly 63,000 people on entry-level to advanced programs that last a few hours to a few days. Popular day programs are Backcountry Navigation, Backpacking Skills, Crystal Cove Hiking and Yoga, Introduction to Outdoor Rock Climbing, and Pacific Coast Kayak Tour. REI’s multiday adventure trips starting in Los Angeles include Trans-Catalina Island Trek and five backpacking and cycling trips that explore Joshua Tree National Park.
Join the REI team
REI expects to hire approximately 50 employees for REI Laguna Hills. Candidates interested in joining the REI team can apply online at REI.com/jobs and a general timeline for hiring is here. Candidates can set up a job alert on the co-op’s career site to be notified when positions are posted. New employees will receive a wide variety of benefits, including generous product and service discounts, competitive pay and retirement contributions. REI employees also enjoy unique perks, such as two paid “Co-op Way Days” each year that allow them to enjoy their favorite outdoor activity and an additional paid day off on Black Friday to encourage all employees to #OptOutside.
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 21.5 million members who expect and love the best quality gear, inspiring expert classes and trips, and outstanding customer service. REI has 178 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.
