![]() ![]() Clothing, particularly "sport-casual" apparel, also became a greater part of the company's product line. REI kept MSR until 2001, when it exited the manufacturing business, selling the operation to Cascade Designs, another successful outdoor gear company in the Seattle area. The company acquired nearby outdoor gear firm Mountain Safety Research in 1981, which later bought tent-maker Edgeworks and produced tents with the MSR brand. ![]() Later on, in the 1980s, and with changes to their board of directors, REI’s emphasis expanded to also include camping, kayaking, bicycling, and other outdoor activities. Through the 1970s, REI identified itself prominently as REI Co-op, focusing primarily on equipment for serious climbers, backpackers, and mountaineering expeditions. When Whittaker became the first American to summit Mount Everest in May of 1963, it provided REI with so much free advertising that, the following year (1964), the company’s gross income topped $1mil for the first time. Whittaker served as CEO during the 1960s and was an early board member, along with American Alpine Club president, Nicholas Clinch. In 1956, Recreational Equipment Cooperative was incorporated. Jim Whittaker was hired as the first full-time employee at REI on July 25, 1955. In 1942, Lloyd moved to a new space, down the hall from The Mountaineers’ club rooms on Pike Street. 1 and 2.įlagship store (1962–1996) in Seattle, circa 1980 11th & Pine on Capitol Hillĭuring their first year, Recreational Equipment was nothing more than a shelf at the Puget Sound Cooperative Store, a farmer's co-op near Pike Place Market in Seattle. On June 23, 1938, with the aid of Seattle attorney Ed Rombauer, five Mountaineers met at Rombauer's office, and each paid one dollar to join the Recreational Equipment Cooperative. The Andersons had imported an Akadem Pickel ice axe from Austria, for themselves, as part of The Mountaineers Basic Climbing Course from there, the two decided to set up a co-operative to help other outdoor enthusiasts in the club acquire good-quality climbing gear at reasonable prices. Lloyd (1902–2000) and Mary (Gaiser) Anderson (1909–2017) founded REI in Seattle, Washington in 1938. ![]() It also receives orders via mail-order catalogs and the internet. REI operates 165 retail stores in 39 states. It also offers services such as outdoor-oriented vacations and courses. REI sells camping gear, hiking, climbing, cycling, water, running, fitness, snow, travel equipment, and men, women and kids clothing. It is organized as a consumers' co-operative. Owner Gayle Rasmussen is retiring after 14 years in business, Docimo said.The business will continue to operate on-line at, she said.The Mill Street Plaza building, at the corner of Mill Street and Hopkins Avenue, is owned by the Mill Street Plaza Association, represented by M&W Properties, according to documents on file in the Pitkin County assessor’s office.Tony Mazza of M&W Properties could not be reached for comment yesterday.Eddie Bauer, a subsidiary of Spiegel, has 10 stores in the Denver area and 553 outlets in the United States and Canada, Loeb said.Recreational Equipment, Inc., doing business as REI, is an American retail and outdoor recreation services corporation. Aspen Sante Fe Trail, too, will close at the end of April, when it’s lease in the Mill Street Plaza expires. Where are we going to shop?” Docimo said with a sigh.However, customers of the interior furnishings shop will also be turning to the Internet soon. “It’s a little more inconvenient for customers, but I think in this market, people are already familiar with on-line shopping because of the remoteness of the location.”That’s of little consolation, though, to those accustomed to popping into Eddie Bauer to buy a gift or article of clothing for themselves, said adjacent shopkeeper Annette Docimo at Aspen Sante Fe Trail.”Eddie Bauer closing – this is so sad. The company evaluates the cost of doing business at a particular locale and an outlet’s sales performance each time a lease comes up and decides whether or not to renew the lease, Loeb said.Eddie Bauer is looking at other opportunities to open a store in the area, she added.The Aspen store, with more than 3,000 square feet of space on two floors, attracts a mix of local shoppers and Aspen visitors, said manager Carolyn Formica.”There’s still catalog and on-line options for shopping,” Formica said. Aspenites will lose a local outlet for affordable blue jeans in April, with the closing of Eddie Bauer in the Mill Street Plaza.The long-rumored closing of the Aspen clothing store was confirmed Thursday by a spokeswoman at Eddie Bauer’s corporate offices in Redmond, Wash.”It’s a combination of store performance and rents,” said Jane Loeb, manager of public relations for Eddie Bauer.A 10-year lease for the Aspen store expires in April. ![]()
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