St. George • It may be two years later than planned, but REI is still coming to St. George.

Despite some rumors of a withdrawal, the upscale outdoor retailer confirmed it remains committed to the long-delayed location.

REI now plans to make its debut in the St. George Place shopping center at 855 S. Bluff Street in spring 2027, spokesperson Carter Clark confirmed in an email to The Salt Lake Tribune. When the project was first reported in 2024, the Seattle-based co-op was targeting a 2025 opening for its first store in southern Utah.

St. George officials, some of whom have heard the same scuttlebutt, also chimed in to silence the false alarms sounded by the rumor mill.

“We are hearing the same thing, that REI is still planning on coming,” St. George Economic Development Director Chad Thomas said. “But as often happens with construction schedules and timing, [the opening] has been delayed.”

REI officials declined to comment on the reasons for the postponement. But Thomas said the delay tracks with the broader headwinds in development since the COVID-19 pandemic, which include inflation, labor costs, financing pressures and the challenge of securing retail space on high-traffic corridors.

“Construction is very difficult,” he said. “It’s really hard to do a project in today’s world. Each retailer has specific windows they want to open in. If it looks like they will not hit a certain timeline, they sometimes will postpone [an opening] until they feel more comfortable.”

REI’s initial announcement that it was coming to St. George drew early enthusiasm from southern Utah hikers, campers and cyclists, some of whom currently drive to Las Vegas for gear and advice. Thomas said REI will complement, not replace, existing local shops like Deseret Rat, a popular hiking and camping store in St. George.

The more the merrier

The announcement comes as good news to St. George resident Michael Brown, who also heard the REI rumor. An avid hiker and mountain biker, he likes to shop at Desert Rat and Al’s Sporting Goods in St. George.

“But more stores and more gear to choose from are always better,” he said. “Plus, in my experience, REI’s staff tend to be more knowledgeable about the products they carry than some of their counterparts at other stores. So I’m excited.”

According to city officials, securing national retailers like REI underscores St. George’s strength as a competitive market. Ultimately, it is the unique character built by local businesses that makes the city an attractive destination for major brands.

“REI is a great addition to St. George and a testament to the strength of our community,” St. George Mayor Jimmie Hughes said in a text. “We’re excited to welcome national brands like REI while celebrating and supporting the local businesses that make St. George unique.”

According to REI’s 2024 announcement, the new St. George location will employ approximately 50 people. The store will feature outdoor apparel and gear for camping, cycling, running, hiking and climbing. It will further include full-service bike, ski and snowboard shops staffed by technicians.

The storefront where the new REI is slated to open is already built but currently stands vacant. When it debuts, the St. George REI will be the fourth in Utah, joining existing locations in Salt Lake City, Sandy and Farmington.