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REI Co-op to Shutter Boston Location by 2026, Citing Evolving Market Needs
Boston – Outdoors retail giant REI Co-op has announced the impending closure of its only Boston store, located in the Landmark Center, by the end of 2026. The move, disclosed on Tuesday, November 4, also includes the closure of its New York City and Paramus, New Jersey locations.
The Boston store, which first opened its doors in 2003, is one of 11 unionized REI locations nationwide, out of a total of 195 stores. Employees at the Boston branch unionized in 2023 and notably staged a walkout last year in response to several firings.
REI Co-op issued a statement, as reported by The Boston Globe, attributing the closures to the need to “adapt to position the co-op for long-term success” as “markets and customer needs evolve.” The company emphasized that “this decision was based on business factors, not on union activity,” and reiterated its commitment to “continued good faith bargaining towards a collective bargaining agreement.” Impacted employees will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other REI locations.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of the closure of REI’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, “small-format neighborhood store” earlier this year. That location, which opened in 2021, was reportedly shuttered due to underperformance.
Strategic Plan Underway
The closures come as REI CEO Mary Beth Laughton unveiled “Peak 28: Ascending Together,” a new three-year strategic plan, on September 29. The plan outlines a vision “to be the most trusted retailer for people who love the outdoors” and includes goals such as updating its membership program and evolving into a high-performing organization. Laughton acknowledged that “making these shifts will not be easy,” requiring “difficult choices and evolve the way we work over the next few years.”
Customers Express Disappointment
The news has been met with disappointment by local customers. After the Boston closure, only three REI stores will remain in Massachusetts, located in Framingham, Reading, and Hingham.
On a Boston subreddit, one customer lamented, “Well, crap. The Cambridge pop-up is already gone.
The Boston one could easily be reached by transit, or I could finish a run or walk nearby. Going to miss the convenient locations.”
Another simply stated, “Well that’s a shame. I really liked the one stop shop for outdoor gear.”