Parts of Manhattan may seem like a canyon surrounded by
tall mountains, but there is little about manuevering around the city that
makes you think of the need for outdoor recreation gear. The gear here tends
to be more along the lines of cell phones, laptops, shirts and ties.
Despite the distance between Manhattan and the wild spaces of New York state and other places, REI has decided that the time is right to to open its first store in the city.
According to a post on the retailer's site, REI will open in the fall of 2011 in the historic Puck Building in SoHo. The store will be spread over three floors and include bike services on two of them with "a quick-repair concierge and a full-service bike shop." It will also include the camping, hiking, snow and water sports equipment that REI is famous for.
"REI is delighted to find such a wonderful location to serve our thousands of Manhattan customers who have been shopping with us for years," said Sally Jewell, REI’s president and CEO, in a statement. "Our new store in the Puck Building will provide a resource to serve New Yorkers, visitors and community groups eager to enjoy the great outdoors -- from bike paths and urban greenways to wild and scenic destinations around the world."
Discussion Questions: Is REI a good fit for Manhattan? What do you see as the key reasons the chain is so successful in a very competitive retailing category?