{"id":244316,"date":"2026-05-26T20:14:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T20:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/244316\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T20:14:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T20:14:07","slug":"rei-flagship-nyc-store-announces-official-closing-date","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/244316\/","title":{"rendered":"REI flagship NYC store announces official closing date"},"content":{"rendered":"

A beloved haven for outdoor enthusiasts is going toes up.<\/p>\n

REI\u2019s flagship Soho store, located within the sprawling Puck Building at Lafayette Street and Houston, will officially close its doors on July 23, according to Crain\u2019s New York<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The soon-to-be shuttered Soho location is the only REI store within the city limits of New York. <\/p>\n

A new state Department of Labor filing revealed the closure will eliminate 72 jobs<\/a> and leave city-dwelling nature lovers without an expansive space to buy tents, water bottles, and the promise of wilderness beyond the five boroughs.<\/p>\n

\"REIThe store is the only REI location in New York City. Getty Images<\/p>\n

The Soho location is among 11 REI locations that have unionized in the past few years. <\/p>\n

Last year, the sidewalk outside the store was the site of a Union Rally, where store employees and supporters protested against REI\u2019s alleged union-busting and bad-faith bargaining. <\/p>\n

REI announced the closure of the Soho location last fall. <\/p>\n

\u201cAfter thoughtful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our SoHo store in late 2026,\u201d a REI spokesperson said in an official statement, Crain\u2019s reported.. \u201cSince opening in 2011, this location has held a special place for us, and we are grateful to our team, our members and customers, and the broader community for their support over the past 15 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, \u201clate 2026\u201d turned out to be mid-year. <\/p>\n

This closure is the latest in a series of downsizing efforts by the box chain, which reported $3.53 billion in net sales in 2024, down from $3.85 billion in 2022.<\/p>\n

In January 2025, REI announced it was laying off more than 400 staffers<\/a> as it shut down its entire \u201cExperiences\u201d division, which offered low-cost, entry-level hiking and activity courses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"AThis closure is the latest downsizing effort by the box chain. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n

While REI begins its hunt for a new tent in Manhattan, fresh tenants are allegedly lining up to snag the covetable storefront.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be another retailer right behind them,\u201d assured Ripco Real Estate Vice Chairman Richard Skulnik, who reps the Puck Building.<\/p>\n

Skulnik told Crain\u2019s New York Business<\/a> last year that his firm intends to maintain the existing multilevel configuration of the retail space, which is being offered at just under $6.3 million in annual rent, or roughly $158 per square foot.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not required to divide the space up because we have a lot of interest for the whole space as it stands,\u201d he said. \u201cWe haven\u2019t picked a horse just yet. We\u2019re deciding between a lot of great concepts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skulnik shared that his firm is in discussions with a number of interested \u201chorses,\u201d ranging from the luxury world to the experiential world to big-box retailers. <\/p>\n

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