REI

A very small REI but they have a good collection of essentials. Please keep in mind that, as they aren’t a typical whole REI store, they won’t carry everything. The collection is very limited. I am not an outdoor person at all but I truly appreciate the store. They have a great staff, and all essentials required for outdoor activities. I usually drop by here when coming to Renton. I usually browse their sale section, they have pretty good deals. There is an ample amount of parking in the complex.

Consistency is a key here that they have managed to maintain over the lifetime of my coming to this location. Shoe fittings are always professional and they always have a great stock. Which makes it easy to want to stop in when I need replacements. Shipping to ANY of the 48 states is super easy, and reliable from in store. Get those points. 😊

Helpful staff helped us find items and let us open boxes to get a better look & feel. Selection is not nearly as large as their flagship store so we didn't find everything we were looking for at this location. The cashiers and a kind customer helped point us in the right direction for a good spot to camp in our Jeep overnight which was much appreciated!

I visited the Southcenter REI store yesterday evening. I was running a bunch of errands and I was hoping a could make it before the store closed. I got there at 7:30 pm and I only needed wool hiking socks so I could go snowshoeing on Saturday. I walk in. I head to the socks. There are many choices, fabrics, brands, colors, and price points. I spend no more than 10 min deciding and weighing the pros and cons. I finally picked the one I think is best. When I turned around to walk to the register, the AP security guard on duty made eye contact with me and spoke into his mic. It’s clear that he suspects I was shoplifting or stealing or being suspicious in some way. I worked in customer-facing service for 10 years from local to corporate businesses, including Target. I knew at that moment that I was targeted as a suspect. All I had done was look at socks and I bought them to prove I could afford it, and that I was not the criminal I was suspected to be. I am disgusted at the lack of inclusive and quite frankly, racist, Asset Protection practices REI has a company. I’m disappointed. I will be returning the product I bought. I’ve been a co-op member since 2015. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars, if not a few thousand at this point. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

What's not to love about REI?! The only bad thing about this location is the awkward entry drive into its parking lot! The staff is very friendly and helpful. I heard them actively planning to help customers from across the store over their radios. The selection is as extensive as any other REI, which means excellent! For sure this is a top notch gear store.