REI Co-op will open two new stores on September 4, one in Appleton, Wisc., and one in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Both new stores the co-op’s newest retail format offering a variety of gear rentals, zero contact bike shop services for maintenance and repairs and Buy Online Pickup In Store capabilities.
The new 20,000-square-foot Appleton store, located at the Center Valley shopping center, and the 21,500-square foot Pigeon Forge store, located at The Tower Shops at Mountain Mile, were originally scheduled to open in the spring but were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Appleton store will join the co-op’s existing Wisconsin locations in Brookfield and Madison, while Pigeon Forge marks the retailers fifth location in Tennessee.
In lieu of in-person grand opening events or giveaways, the community is invited to celebrate the store virtually – customers can visit the Pigeon Forge store page or the Appleton store page for updates.
Both stores will be operating on a reduced schedule and limiting the number of people in store. There will also be socially distanced queuing at store entrances, footwear, cash registers and shop counters, as well as plexiglass shields at all registers.
