Outdoor retailer REI will have a presence at Midtown Tampa, the developer confirmed Thursday.
Seattle-based REI has signed a lease for 22,500 square feet in Midtown, the mixed-use development at Interstate 275 and North Dale Mabry Highway.
REI will be located along North Dale Mabry Highway, on the ground level of Midtown One, the first office tower planned in Midtown. It is slated to break ground later this year.
The Tampa Bay Business Journal first reported in May 2018 that REI was among the retailers that New York-based Bromley Cos., the master developer of Midtown, was targeting for the property.
Bromley has since partnered with Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate Inc. and CASTO Southeast Realty Services to develop Midtown’s 220,000 square feet of retail space.
REI will open in Midtown in 2021. It is the first location on the West Coast of Florida; REI’s two other Florida locations are in Jacksonville and Winter Park.
Tampa is the first location REI has announced for 2021, a spokeswoman for the retailer said. The company will open seven new stores in 2019 and has announced plans for three new stores in 2020.
“REI has been part of our vision for Midtown since the beginning, especially with the company’s significant membership base in Florida,” Nicholas Haines, CEO of Bromley Cos., said in a statement. “REI is a perfect fit with Midtown’s other wellness-focused tenants, including Whole Foods Market and True Food Kitchen, combined with our outdoor amenities to help foster connections and ultimately improve the health of the community.”
REI Tampa will also offer a specialty bike shop for customers to take advantage of maintenance and repair services, the retailer said.
“Tampa is an incredible community to continue our mission to connect local REI members to the outdoor places and activities they love,” Gail Kirkland, REI regional director for the south, said in a statement. “Whether our members are paddling the Hillsborough River or taking a short walk from our store along The Watercourse, we can help them prepare for any kind of adventure.”
“The Watercourse” is a recreational trail within Midtown measuring 1/3 of a mile, wrapping around the water feature developers have dubbed Midtown Lake.
