REI closing 3 stores in 2026. See shuttering locations.

Outdoor gear retailer REI is pulling up its tent in three locations.

The Seattle-based co-operative, with more than 25 million members and over 190 stores, announced that it would close stores in Boston, New York City and Paramus, New Jersey, in 2026.

"We are deeply grateful to our teams, our members and customers, and the stores’ communities for their support over the years," REI said in a statement shared with USA TODAY. "As markets and customer needs evolve, we must adapt to position the co-op for long-term success. We will continue serving members and customers at these locations until closing, and at our other stores across the New York and Boston regions."

Outdoor retailers giving ground with consumer confidence shaken

REI is not the only outdoor gear retailer facing challenges. Outdoor and sporting goods chain Orvis recently announced plans to close about half of its locations by early 2026, with Orvis President Simon Perkins citing the "unprecedented tariff landscape," which is driving up costs and price tags.

In addition, Eddie Bauer shut down several stores this year, noted realty news site Costar.com in an Oct. 10 story, reflecting an issue for outdoor retailers, which saw consumer spending on their goods spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consumer sentiment has dipped among middle and low-income shoppers as they have tightened their discretionary spending. While the outdoor industry has grown 31% since 2020, the market is down 2% from a year ago, Matt Tucker, director of client development for Circana’s sports equipment business, told Outside magazine earlier this year.

“Outdoor specialty retail has experienced four quarters of decline – and that trend has been worsening,” REI’s previous CEO Eric Artz told employees at the outset of 2024. The co-op has continued to face challenges, reporting a net loss of $156.4 million in 2024. Revenue fell 6.2% from the previous year, REI reported in May 2025.

In January 2025, REI shuttered its Experiences business, which included adventure travel, day trips, classes and other events. The company also laid off 180 full-time and 248 part-time employees, most of whom were part of that business.

During 2024, REI opened 10 new stores, and has since opened six more in 2025, according to its website. Mary Beth Laughton, who took over as REI's CEO in February, detailed a new three-year strategic plan on Sept. 29 entitled "Peak 28: Ascending Together," with a goal of being "the most trusted retailer for people who love the outdoors."

As Laughton said in an email to employees (and in a post on the REI website): "Making these shifts will not be easy; they’ll require us to fundamentally transform, make difficult choices and evolve the way we work over the next few years."

Which REI stores are closing?

• Paramus, New Jersey: Closing in the first three months of 2026.
• Boston: Closing in late 2026.
• New York City: The REI SoHo flagship store will be closing in late 2026.

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge

Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at  mikegsnider  &  @mikegsnider.bsky.social  &  @mikesnider & [email protected]

What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day