Look Inside the Massive New REI Coming to NoMa

In little more than a month, REI, the outdoors retailer, will open a 51,000-square-foot flagship store right across the street from the NoMa Metro station. That’s the location of the former Uline Arena, which hosted the Beatles’ first-ever US concert in 1964 and, more recently, a parking garage.

A lot’s changed. On a tour of the site, set to open October 21 with a three-day block party, REI revealed some of the upcoming features of its fifth-ever flagship, including community spaces, an “adventure station” for local outdoor-trekking advice, and an in-store La Colombe coffee shop.

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