Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and REI Co-op officials today announced the specialty outdoor retailer will establish a new distribution center in Lebanon.

“REI is a respected brand that has been trusted by outdoor enthusiasts for over 80 years, and I’m proud the company has chosen Tennessee for its newest distribution center. Our state’s central location and unmatched quality of life make it the ideal destination for a company so committed to outdoor recreation, and I thank REI for its commitment and job creation in Lebanon,” said Governor Bill Lee.

REI, the nation’s largest consumer co-op, will create more than 280 new jobs in Wilson County as a result of the project. Construction is now underway and the facility, REI’s fourth distribution center in the country, is expected to open fall 2023. Once complete, it will serve more than 70 REI stores on the East Coast and in the Midwest and South.

Situated on 41 acres in Wilson County, the 400,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be one mile from I-40 and three miles from downtown Lebanon at 1400 Murfreesboro Road. It is being constructed with industry-leading sustainability and technology features. The design is centered on a productive and healthy build environment that intentionally takes into consideration how employees work, rest and connect to nature.

Headquartered near Seattle, REI is a specialty outdoor retailer with 174 locations across 41 states and the District of Columbia. Since 1938, the company has provided quality gear and apparel and expert advice to consumers with a love of the outdoors. REI operates five stores in Tennessee that employ nearly 300 people across the state.

“REI Co-op selected Lebanon to complement our existing distribution centers around the country and to better serve our growing customer base and broader outdoor community. Today, approximately 5.6 million REI members are in the service area of the Lebanon distribution center. We look forward to operating a facility that puts the local community, its people and environment at the forefront,” said Bill Best, REI Vice President of Supply Chain.

Since 2017, TNECD has supported 15 economic development projects in Wilson County, resulting in 4,750 job commitments and $971 million in capital investment.