After months of speculation, Recreational Equipment, Inc. formally announced Thursday it will open a Durango location in spring 2025.

Rumors began to circulate in January when a proposal for an unnamed sporting goods store was presented to the city of Durango’s design review board. The building’s square footage and architectural renderings matched that of other REI stores built in Colorado.

The roughly 22,000-square-foot store will be located at the northwest corner of Turner Drive and U.S. Highway 550 in Bodo Industrial Park. The building was designed by Hillsdale Architects based in Boise, Idaho.

“We have long been interested in joining the Durango community. Despite the closest REI store being over 100 miles away, we have nearly 9,000 active members in the area,” said Janet Hopkins, REI regional director in a news release. “We look forward to being a resource to all and partnering with nonprofits doing incredible work to protect natural places and create belonging in the outdoors.”

In total, the company has 2.2 million members in Colorado. Construction will begin this fall headed by development company Barclay Group based out of Phoenix, according to REI spokeswoman Megan Behrbaum.

The store will bring about 50 new jobs to Durango including management employees, Behrbaum said.

“Hiring would begin at the earliest late next year as it’s a spring 2025 opening,” Behrbaum said in an email to The Durango Herald. “Typically, we hire the management first, and then partner with them to interview the candidates for the rest of the year.”

Much like other REI stores nationwide, the store will offer a full-service bike, ski and snowboard shop. It will join the likes of other outdoor retailers in Durango such as Gardenschwartz, Backcountry Experience, 2nd Ave. Sports and Pine Needle Mountaineering.

tbrown@durangoherald.com