REI Co-op, which recently announced it would be re-opening store across the country, has set a new timetable for opening its new store in South Carolina. The opening initially was set for this spring but the coronavirus and stay-at-home decree by Gov. Henry McMaster in March delayed that rollout. The Washington-state based co-op now is targeting this August for a grand opening.
The store will be located in Columbia, S.C. as part of a new BullStreet retail and residential development. REI has completed construction of the 20,000-square-foot within BullStreet.
BullStreet is considered the biggest land deal in modern Columbia history. It is zoned for 3.3 million square feet of commercial space. The city of Columbia has invested tens of millions of dollars in the 181-acre campus, including Segra Park, a $37 million, mostly taxpayer-funded professional baseball stadium, as well as streets, utilities, curbs and gutters. The REI store is located new the stadium. Other tenants within the development include the $30 million, 196-unit Merrill Gardens senior living complex; luxury townhomes, and the division of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.
Columbia is the second location for the outfitter in South Carolina. A Greenville store opened in 2011. The company is presently offering curbside pickup at its store in Greenville.
REI expects to hire about 45 employees in Columbia. Job seekers can apply online at REI.com/jobs.
