Eastside News

REI breaks ground on new Bellevue headquarters

The first phase of the Spring District in Bellevue, Washington, seen from the 26th floor of City Center East, a high-rise office building in Downtown Bellevue. Jan. 2018

BELLEVUE, Wash. — REI is celebrating the groundbreaking of its new headquarters in Bellevue Friday morning with a celebration and time capsule.

The co-op’s headquarters are currently in Kent, but will move to its new campus in Bellevue in 2020.

The new 400,000-square-foot headquarters will be built in the Spring District of Bellevue.

Personal and historical mementos from CEO Jerry Stritzke, Bellevue Mayor John Chelminiak and historic gear from the REI archives celebrating 80 years of the co-op will go into the time capsule.

REI has pledged a 3-year, $100,000 investment in some Eastside organizations for “transformative outdoor experiences” in the region.

Construction crews recently broke ground on the project, and will pour the slab foundation for the main building later this month.

The company has 152 stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia.

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