Imagine a mob of Black Friday shoppers, except they’re sporting socks and sandals, hipster beanies and ear-to-ear grins. Welcome to the grand opening of the REI at Eugene’s Oakway Center.
The event on Friday, March 13, celebrated REI’s move from its original Eugene location at Lawrence Street and Third Avenue, which opened in 1992, to its new home at 95 Oakway Center. The larger space features expanded services and bigger departments for apparel, cycling, camping and footwear.
As a Seattle native, I was intrigued when I heard about the event the night before. The beloved outdoor gear co-op was founded in my hometown nearly a century ago. Selfishly, I longed to claim the event’s crown jewel: the limited-edition, Eugene-themed Nalgene water bottle that was promised to the first 250 shoppers…