Dear Action Line,
There appear to be electric vehicle chargers in the parking lot of the future REI location in Bodo Park. What kind are they? And when is this store supposed to open anyway? – Signed, Low on battery
REI is quickly making its mark on Durango. What once was an empty lot on the corner of Turner Drive and the Bodo Park frontage road is now a slick new big box retail store preparing to welcome customers.
With the change in scenery has come a number of questions. When will this store open? Will it endanger the success of Durango’s “mom and pop” outdoor equipment stores? What type of electric vehicle chargers are in the parking lot?
Action Line reached out to REI’s public relations team asking about the EV chargers our reader asked about and received a reply from Carter Clark, who let us know that the chargers were supplied by Rivian.
With this knowledge in hand, Action Line drove down to REI to see the chargers for ourselves. There are seven chargers in total, all on the south end of the parking lot adjacent to Turner Drive. Six are lined up next to each other, while an additional charger is stationed perpendicular to the others with a sign indicating that it’s reserved for vehicles with trailers.
If you don’t own a Rivian, don’t sweat it. Signs near the chargers say that they are “open to all electric vehicles.”
For those not fully up to speed on the Durango REI location, the company announced the construction of the 22,000-square-foot building back in 2023 and initially said the store would open in spring 2025.
REI operates with a co-op model, and the retailer said there are 9,000 co-op members living in Durango. Presumably, this population of consumers is purchasing from REI online or from out of town locations, the closest of which is 130 miles away in Grand Junction.
Whenever a large company sets up shop in town, there is concern for the small business that already occupies the hearts and minds of Durangoans. According to a previous article in The Durango Herald, outdoor gear store owners are worried but appear ready to lean on long-lasting customer relationships to compete with REI. How much of an impact the outdoor giant will have on Durango feels like a wait-and-see game at this point.
And when on earth is this store going to open, anyway? The initial press release said spring 2025, but if you’ve checked the calendar recently, it sure looks to be summer.
“Our grand opening celebrations are slated for the end of August, though we do not have an exact date yet,” Clark said.
That’s all we know for now, and Clark said there should be an announcement at some point with the exact opening date.
The EV chargers are still covered up, so if you’re low on battery, you’ll have to play the waiting game too or find a different charging location until August.
Submit questions or comments to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail questions to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301.
