So I'm chillin' at REI Denver right now, their flagship store. It's 3 stories of awesomeness... well actually more because they have a lot of intermediate floors that go between the main floors, and they have a basement down below where they do rentals. They've got a climbing wall inside which you can see, a bike testing track in the front of the store, a starbucks inside the store, signs everywhere telling you where the various sections are, a main parking lot and a secondary pay lot next door (it's free if you're just going to REI, 5 bucks if you want to go to the park nearby, and I think 3 bucks if you want to do the park thing and are an REI member.) Either way, this place is HUGE! It's their biggest store in terms of sales and thus it's their flagship store. I seem to be doing a sort of Tour de REI. I've been to 8 so far... all 4 in GA, the one in Santa Fe, NM and Albuquerque, AZ, as well as downtown Denver and Boulder, CO. I'm going to another CO one in a few days which will bring me up to 9.
Some people here do all the 14'ers. There's some 54 "official" 14ers in Colorado, and a few more "unofficial" 14ers. (You have to have a certain amount of elevation drop between peaks for them to count as two separate official peaks. If you don't, it's kinda like you could go from one peak, down a little bit, and up to another peak, and that other one would be called an unofficial peak.) Anyways, some people like doing the 14ers. I like doing the REI's! :D
REI Seattle is their headquarters store, where all their gear ships from. I'd definitely like to visit that one someday as well.
Looking from where this store is taken, you'll see food right in front of us and also stretching off to the left, then moving forward you'll find cookware, the 47' climbing wall, camping stuff, and men's clothing. All the way down and to the right is the Starbucks. To the right from where this picture was taken is the bookstore. Behind us is the cycling area and behind that is footware. Off to the side from there is the kayaking stuff. Start moving up the floors and you'll find the restrooms and waterfountains (yay!), women's clothing, kid's clothing, travel stuff, a kid's play area, and more. Basically there's stuff all over the place!
As in most every store I've found, the people are loads of fun (both employees and customers), the environment is great, and it's just a place I really enjoy being.
Oh, 2009 dividends are available today and for the next 3 weeks REI is doing a 20% off sale off one full-priced item so if you're an REI member, time to take advantage of the offers! ;)
Oh, right next door you'll hear this beautiful classical music playing. If you walk into the building, you'll find it's an amazing little restaurant bar. The food there is really tasty, the people who work there are all really laid-back, friendly, and cool, and when you order at the bar (if you're alone like me and not sitting w/ a group of ppl at a table), they'll bring out your food in this little tray rack which has all the essentials built in as part of a carrying tray.. salt, pepper, ketchup, napkins, onions, pickles, and so forth. Makes it really easy for the waiters and bartenders to bring you your stizzuf when you're seated at the bar!
We're supposed to get some more snow tonight. I hear you Georgia guys got some today. Woohoo!!
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