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, 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.
Since 2017, TNECD has supported 15 economic development projects in Wilson County, resulting in 4,750 job commitments and $971 million in capital investment.
“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. Bill Lee
“With more than 223,000 Tennesseans employed across nearly 14,000 distribution and logistics establishments, REI will be contributing to one of our state’s most robust industries. We are proud to welcome REI to Tennessee and appreciate their team for creating nearly 300 new jobs in Wilson County.” – TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe
“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.” – Bill Best, REI vice president of supply chain
“On behalf of Wilson County, I want to welcome REI Co-op to our community. This decision was made possible because of the partnership formed with REI and members of our economic development team especially those of the Wilson County Commission. We look forward to continuing our relationship and of being part of REI’s newest technology driven omni-channel operation center. Their commitment to sustainability, to their people and to commitment to technology blends well with the goals and plans of our county. We look forward to further partnering with REI though their community outreach, events and stewardship programs.” – Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto
“TVA and Middle Tennessee Electric congratulate REI on its decision to locate operations and create new job opportunities in Wilson County. We are proud to partner together to provide clean, reliable, low cost energy and support REI’s renewable energy goals. We celebrate this announcement along with the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Wilson County and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and look forward to REI’s future business success.” – John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development
"This sizable jobs investment is tremendous news. From our hard-working and skilled people to our prime location and optimal overall business climate, Wilson County offers the right ingredients for businesses to succeed. Congratulations to REI on their decision to locate this facility here and thanks to Governor Lee, Commissioner Rolfe and all of our state and local officials for working to bring these jobs home." – Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon)
“I am very excited to see a company like REI choosing to do business in Lebanon. We have worked hard to create a business-friendly environment in Wilson County and across Tennessee, and this announcement is yet another example of those successful efforts. I look forward to this new distribution center opening in Lebanon and want to thank all of those who helped make it possible.” – Rep. Clark Boyd (R-Lebanon)