REI store coming to Jax

[spuwho]

REI opens today.



http://jacksonville.com/business/2013-02-28/story/here-comes-800-pound-outdoor-gorilla-rei-opens-jacksonville-today

That will now be 4 Seattle based firms who have landed in Jax.

- Costco
- Nordstroms
- REI
- Starbucks

[Coolyfett]

Sweet, now I can not go to REI, just like I don't go to Dick's sporting goods. Who in their right mind wants to deal with Town center traffic?

Lots of people, you will be surprised.

[Coolyfett]

REI. What's next? What other stores does Jacksonville have to get to have officially arrived? Macys? Trader joes?

Maserati?

[If_I_Loved_you]

REI. What's next? What other stores does Jacksonville have to get to have officially arrived? Macys? Trader joes?

Maserati?

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2012/06/28/hanania-automotive-to-open-maserati.html

http://jacksonville.com/autos/2013-02-28/story/exotic-maserati-line-be-sold-jacksonville

[tufsu1]

If REI is the 800-pound gorilla, what does that make Bass Pro Shops?

[If_I_Loved_you]

If REI is the 800-pound gorilla, what does that make Bass Pro Shops?

120,000 pound Right Whale?

[Overstreet]

The old Fuel spot in five points would have been a really cool location...

It does not fit their model.

[Overstreet]

As a recovering Denverite, I saw REI transform Confluence Park into a location where kayakers could test out their gear. Their enormous building, close to downtown but still a 25 minute hike, has a substantial climbing wall and staff ready to put you into the Platte River to try out your new skid. They could easily (but expensively) create a small Class 2 run for trials. Kind of like Land Rover does at their dealerships.

There is a large retention pond behind the SJTC location. Maybe they'll do something similar. Granted, it's no Platte River, but it would be better than nothing.

Retention pond? I don't know about that. Something about that just doesn't sound right to me.

Black Creek Outfitters lets customers try out kayaks and paddle boards in the retention pond behind the store. They are probably not happy with REI coming to Jax. A lot of their stuff follows REI stock. 

[Overstreet]

^ Just for you I-10....


"Maybe REI will sell me a kayak with wheels so I can paddle my way through the Town Center sea of parking"!   

LOL, I gotta give you points for creativity on that one.

They will sell you a pretty good pair of high tech hiking boots.

[acme54321]

I went to their VIP event last night.  It's a nice store.  Lots of people were there representing local outdoor oriented organizations and businesses, including the owners of Black Creek Outfitters.

[Dog Walker]

The old Fuel spot in five points would have been a really cool location...

It does not fit their model.

And it's not nearly big enough.  It is also stilled mired in litigation with the roofer's insurance company that refuses to pay for the damage done when the roofer left the roof open to a thunderstorm.