REI to build massive 'eco friendly' distribution center in Tennessee
REI, the specialty outdoor retailer headquartered near Seattle, will establish a new distribution center in Lebanon.
The move by the nation's largest consumer co-op will create more than 280 jobs in Wilson County, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced Wednesday morning.
Construction is now underway for the facility that will be REI's fourth distribution center in the country. Situated just one mile from I-40 and three miles from downtown Lebanon at 1400 Murfreesboro Road, REI says the center is being built with sustainability and technology features with a design focused on a healthy environment that considers how employees work, rest and connect to nature.
“Opening a distribution center in Lebanon strategically positions REI for growth and complements the service areas of our other distribution facilities," said Bill Best, REI vice president of supply chain. "Most importantly, the center will reflect the co-op’s values by putting people first and apply a new standard in fighting the climate crisis. We have a strong local partner that understands REI’s brand, sustainability ethos and interest to create healthier communities.”
The 400,000-square-foot facility on 41 acres in Wilson County is expected to open fall 2023.
Once construction is wrapped up, the distribution facility will serve more than 70 REI stores on the East Coast and in the Midwest and South.
Governor Lee welcomes the development news.
“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," Gov. Lee said.
REI has 174 locations across 41 states and the District of Columbia. The company runs five stores in Tennessee that employ nearly 300 people across the state.
REI Co-op will build a new distribution center in Lebanon, Tennessee, to support growth on the East Coast, Midwest, and South.
The location of the 400,000-square-foot distribution center that will employ more than 280 workers will reduce online customers' shipping times and will support more than 70 retail locations, according to REI. The co-op also said nearly 5.6 million REI members live in the center's service area.
Located on 41 acres in Wilson County and one mile from I-40, the facility is expected to open in the fall of 2023 and will complement three existing distribution centers in Bedford, Pennsylvania, Goodyear, Arizona, and Sumner, Washington.
Similar to its Arizona distribution center, it will be constructed with sustainability and technology features, REI said, which also added it will be designed to take into consideration how employees work, rest, and connect to nature.
"Opening a distribution center in Lebanon strategically positions REI for growth and complements the service areas of our other distribution facilities," said Bill Best, REI vice president of supply chain. "Most importantly, the center will reflect the co-op's values by putting people first and apply a new standard in fighting the climate crisis. We have a strong local partner that understands REI's brand, sustainability ethos and interest to create healthier communities."
Commercial real estate developer Al. Neyer is the co-op's partner, architect, and general contractor for the project.
According to REI, the building will address the entire life cycle of carbon impacts by using 100% renewable, 100% electric energy, and operating as a zero-waste facility. REI also will be an active participant in regional renewable energy solutions.
REI's Bedford and Goodyear locations are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Its Goodyear distribution center that opened in 2016 achieved LEED Platinum certification — the highest level in the U.S. Green Building Council's green building rating system — and the first distribution center in the country to achieve LEED Platinum certification and Net Zero Energy.
