Site Visit: REI Store, Seattle

Before you even enter the store, you can feel the energy. First, you notice a track for folk testing mountain bikes that laps around the store. Then you notice a chain of clocks that feature the time in various mountain locations. Even as you reach for the door handle you are reminded of the great outdoors: it’s a climbing axe.

Not only is the place is jam-packed full of outdoors kit, but it’s also jammed full of brand experience. A 65 foot climbing tower stands proud in one corner, but if that’s a little excessive for you, you can try a mini trail to check your new walking shoes, or you can climb a boulder for your climbing shoes.

The staff, it appears, truly live and breathe the great outdoors (they even test all the equipment before they sell it). There’s even a library and information desk to help you plan your next adventure.

If there’s a city that this REI store should sit, it would be Seattle with its natural surroundings. The store is extremely authentic, you can sense the owner’s vision, and you just lap it up.

222 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109. (206) 223-1944

btw – Do visit the new Seattle Library if you are in the area too. Simply perfect.