REI Co-op​​ To Host Grand Opening Weekend In Orland Park

ORLAND PARK, IL — REI Co-op will open it's new, 20,000 square foot store in Orland Park on Aug. 27. The business will sell a wide assortment of top-quality outdoor gear and apparel for camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, paddling and more.

Located at 15515 S. 95th Ave, the store also has a specialty bike and Nordic ski shop staffed with certified experts to tune or repair equipment, according to a news release. The business is hostings its grand opening celebration, inviting community and REI members to the three-day-long event. The store is set to open every day at 10 a.m., with giveaways while supplies last, the release states.

“We are thrilled to join the Orland Park community and support the active lifestyles of local residents as they play and explore doing the activities they love," said Amanda Hinton, REI Orland Park store manager. "Whether trying a new activity or heading out on a familiar trail to bike, hike or trail run, we have the gear and expertise our members and outdoor community need to get outside.”

During the grand opening weekend, the business will host an outdoor social every afternoon from 2 to 6 p.m. with music, outdoor gear vendors and local partners. Nonprofits participating in the grand opening celebration include Friends of Big Marsh, Major Taylor Trail Keepers, Envision Unlimited, Chicago Adventure Therapy, Adaptive Adventures, Friends of the Forest Preserves and more.

According to the release, REI is the country’s largest consumer co-op, with 20 million lifetime members. While anyone is welcome to shop and tap into the company’s resources in support of an active lifestyle, members enjoy a range of benefits. Perks include an online used gear trade-in program in exchange for REI gift cards; discounts on experiences, classes, rentals and shop services; a share of the co-op’s annual profits based on qualifying purchases; the release states.

REI Orland Park is set to have health and safety protocols in place designed to maintain physical distance between customers and employees, including:

• Limiting the number of people in store. REI Orland Park will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Customers may be asked to wait in line outside the store to ensure proper distancing.
• We are asking our community to help us create a safe environment for all. That includes asking customers to wear CDC approved face coverings in CDC designated “substantial” or “high” transmission areas. Employees working in these areas are required to wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status.
• Socially distanced queuing at store entrances, footwear, cash registers and bike and ski shop counters.
• Plexiglass shields at all registers.
• Enhanced cleaning procedures with thorough, frequent cleanings of high-touch surface areas.

REI has been part of the Illinois outdoor community since opening its first location in Niles in 1991, which relocated to Northbrook in 2007, the release states. With nearly 535,000 REI lifetime members in the state, REI also has stores in Lincoln Park (opened 2008, relocated 2019), Oakbrook Terrace (opened 1994), Vernon Hills (opened 2018).

For those not able to visit an REI store, online resources are available. Anyone may schedule virtual outfitting appointments to receive personalized, one-on-one fit services and how-to’s for a wide range of activities. REI's Expert Advice library offers numerous resources for customers and members to learn new skills, choose the right gear and prepare for outdoor adventures, according to the release.

In addition to its retail locations, REI offers local classes and guided day trips in Illinois. As a national leader in outdoor experiences, the co-op helps more than 350,000 people across the country get outside each year. Popular programs during the fall include Two Brothers Prairie Path Bike and Brew, Indiana Dunes National Park Backpacking Trip, Indiana Dunes National Park Fall Colors Hiking Tour, Full Moon Hike, and Chicago's Wild Mile Kayak Tour.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, REI local experiences are limited at this time across Illinois and the country. Please check REI.com/events for the latest details.

Each year, REI invests millions of dollars in local nonprofit organizations to steward trails, waterways and parks and connect people to the outdoors, the release states. Since 2018, REI has invested over $430,000 in local outdoor nonprofits in Illinois. This year, $100,000 went to 11 local nonprofits, including the Active Transportation Alliance, Friends of the Chicago River, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Outerbelt Alliance, Openlands, and Forest Preserve Foundation, according to the release.