REI Co-op, a retailer specializing in outdoor goods, is planning to open a store in the Huntington Shopping Center next summer.
The 21,100-square foot store will take over the former Modell’s store at 350 Walt Whitman Road.
It will offer apparel, gear and expertise for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing, snowsports and more. It also plans a full-service bike shop staffed by certified mechanics. The store will also have a ski and snowboard shop with professional tuning, waxing and repairs.
“We’ve long been interested in better serving the Long Island outdoor community and in complement to our existing Tri-State stores,” said Sean Sampson, REI regional director. “As we do in every community where the co-op has a presence, our local team will seek partnerships with nonprofits to support their efforts in protecting natural places and welcoming more people outside.”
The company operates as a consumer co-operative, offerng memberships, and says it has more than 665,000 members in New York State.
“REI is a terrific addition to our evolving line-up at Huntington Shopping Center and brings us closer to our vision of providing a dynamic mix of essential resources to the community as part of our center-wide redevelopment,” said Chris Fleming, vice president at Federal Realty, which operates the center, which is undergoing renovation. “Their brand and customer appeal aligns well with the tenants we’ll continue to unveil.”
REI partners with nonprofits across the nation to maintain local trails and public lands to connect more people to the outdoors. Last year, the co-op said, it invested $7.1 million in more than 450 nonprofits across the country.
REI said it expects to hire approximately 50 employees for REI Huntington. Candidates interested in joining the REI team can apply online at REI.com/jobs and a general timeline for hiring is here.
https://huntingtonnow.com/architectural-plans-for-huntington-shopping-center-advance/
https://huntingtonnow.com/modells-to-close-all-remaining-stores/