REI opening on Sawmill this weekend, joining Easton

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Dan Eaton

REI's second Central Ohio store is at 6424 Sawmill Road near Dublin.

Dan Eaton

Staff reporter- Columbus Business First

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Columbus has gone from non REIs to two in a matter of months.

The Seattle-based outdoor retailer opened its first area store at Easton Gateway in May and has followed quickly with a second opening coming Friday at 6424 Sawmill Road near Dublin.

It's an unusual real estate arrangement. Rather than building new or occupying a vacated big box, REI took over 23,000 square feet in the HHGregg store at the Sun Center as the electronics store downsized within its 60,000-square-foot box to a 37,000-square-foot store.

The REI cooperative store – a $20 lifetime membership earns customers an annual refund on purchases (10 percent is the average) plus other discounts and privileges – has more than 9,000 members in Central Ohio. The business is known not just for its products but also for its assortment of in-store classes and events.

Recreational Equipment Inc., founded in 1938, has more than $2 billion in annual sales, more than 5 million members and 137 stores in 33 states.

Dan Eaton covers retailing and restaurants for Columbus Business First.