#OptOutside: Outdoor co-op REI will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving and Black Friday

REI, the $2.4 billion outdoor co-op, will close its doors not only on Thanksgiving Day -- but also, on Black Friday.

According to a release from REI officials, this is an effort to "cultural counterweight to Black Friday."

Calling the effort #OptOutside," REI officials are making the move in celebration of "the people who dedicate their lives to the outdoors."

“This year, REI will shut down on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday because fundamentally we believe that being outside makes us our best selves – healthier and happier, physically and mentally. But as a nation we’re still spending over 90 percent of our lives indoors and it’s a trend we need to tackle,” said REI CEO Jerry Stritzke in the release. “I love that there is a community of people in this country who dedicate their lives to that mission, so together, we are asking America 'Will you go out with us?'”

REI officials are asking that each of its more than six million co-op members invite someone to choose the outdoors vs. the aisles. 

“The moment we announced our decision last year, people who build their lives around the outdoors really embraced the idea of reclaiming Black Friday. It took on a life of its own and became about much more than REI. #OptOutside should be a platform for the nonprofits and public servants who are on the front lines of the outdoor community. They’re the ones who make the outdoors accessible for everyone. That’s why, from today onward, we’re going to lift them up as the official spokespeople for #OptOutside," Stritzke said.