REI to open store in Fort Worth’s Waterside development in the spring

REI, a specialty outdoor retailer and the nation's largest consumer co-op, will open a new store in the spring in Waterside in Fort Worth, the retailer announced.

Waterside if the west Fort Worth residential and shopping development of Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co.

The store will feature the top brands of outdoor gear and apparel for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, travel and paddling, and the stores' bike shop will provide cyclists with expert assembly and repair services, the retailer said.

The 24,500-square-foot riverfront location of the new Fort Worth store will serve more than 3,000 active REI members in the area.

Waterside, on land once used for a recreation complex by Lockheed Martin employees, will have outdoor activity areas, including a trailhead with a bicycle repair and air station, chilled filtered water for re-fillable bottles, an internal trail system, paddling activities and an urban garden.

“We are always looking for new ways to help local communities get outside and play,” said Greg Medlyn, REI's divisional vice president, said in a statement. “Whether you're hiking at Eagle Mountain Park or cycling the C&O Canal, we've been engaged in the outdoor communities in Fort Worth for years and look forward to continuing to connect these communities to the outdoor places they love.”

Waterside is between Interstates 30 and 20, at the intersection of Bryant Irvin Road and Arborlawn Drive. REI also has stores in Southlake, Plano and Dallas, with more than 80,000 active members in the region.

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "REI to open store in Fort Worth’s Waterside development in the spring."