DENVER — REI Co-op will be closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday once again.
The outdoor retailer said its more than 190 locations will be closed as part of a movement the retailer calls "Opt Outside."
REI said it will close all stores, distribution centers, activity centers, call centers, and headquarters on Thanksgiving and Black Friday and pay its 15,000 employees to "find solace and rejuvenation in nature."
"This year, amidst a divisive election and hectic shopping season, REI will be encouraging their customers to choose nature therapy, opposed to retail therapy," the company said Thursday.
"Opt Outside is a reminder of the impact that time outside has on our well-being. What used to be one of the most chaotic days for our employees is now one where they can do what they love," said REI President and CEO Eric Artz. "This year, REI employees are sharing their expertise to help us all find places where we can disconnect from the noise and chaos of the everyday by reconnecting with nature."
In 2022, REI announced Opt Outside would become an ongoing, permanent, employee benefit.
"Every day, REI employees connect our members and customers to incredible experiences outside, making them true experts in finding the best places to enjoy nature," Artz said. "In a time of year where we are bombarded with messages about what to buy, we invite everyone to join us in finding a peaceful place to take a break to recharge."
REI said it is has a curated list of the most peaceful places to Opt Outside, handpicked by REI employees across the country:
- Big Bend National Park - Texas
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness - Minnesota
- Buffalo National River - Arkansas
- DeSoto Falls Scenic Recreation Area - Georgia
- Escalante National Monument - Utah
- Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Washington
- Hoh Rain Forest - Washington
- Huron-Manistee National Forest - Michigan
- Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve - California
- Nantucket Island - Massachusetts
- New Orleans Botanical Garden - Louisiana
- Point Bridget State Park - Alaska
- Seawall, Acadia National Park - Maine
- Sinks Canyon State Park - Wyoming
- Two Mile Run County Park - Maryland
