SEATTLE (BRAIN) — REI Co-op will close its Santa Monica, California, store in February because of the operation's rising costs.
The downtown location is 32,000 square feet and closes officially on Feb. 29.
"The decision to close was not made lightly, but after consideration of the positive impact of the store, our market presence, and external factors," according to an REI statement. "While Santa Monica remains a destination for locals and visitors alike, the needs of our customers and business have shifted over the nearly two decades that we've served this community. The overall operating environment has also changed, and the cost to do business."
The Santa Monica store opened in 2006 and is one of 14 locations in the Los Angeles area.
In October, REI announced it was eliminating about 275 jobs nationally in a restructuring of store roles.
