Outdoor retailer increases retail area 40 per cent, expands product, service and community offerings with new Edmonton flagship
VANCOUVER, May 2, 2017 /CNW/ - MEC, Edmonton's go-to place for outdoor gear and know-how, is now open at its new 41,000-square-foot flagship store at 11904 104th Avenue, in the city's Brewery District. Minutes from its old location, the two-level structure ‒ with steel and glass silos, a welcoming timber canopy, abundant natural light and wood-infused interiors ‒ is chock full of products and services for active outdoor lifestyles.
From climbing to canoeing, biking to camping, the larger space provides greater breadth and depth to MEC's carefully curated activity assortments. The second level is almost entirely devoted to men's and women's apparel and footwear for a range of activities as well as clothing for youth, kids and infants.
"Albertans are passionate about our activities, being outside in nature, embracing challenges and adventures and sharing good times with family and friends," said CEO David Labistour. We've seen this first-hand in Edmonton for 20 years, and it's satisfying today to bring our 250,000-plus members here a new store and an exciting shopping experience equal to their passion for the outdoors."
The retail co-operative was a fixture at its original Oliver storefront on 102nd Avenue since it opened in 1998. That changed Saturday night at 6:00pm when the store closed and the last bikes and boats headed one kilometre east for the new digs. MEC Edmonton, now almost two-thirds larger, reopened Sunday with no service interruption.
MEC's new Edmonton location now also provides more services, including a larger full-service bike repair and ski-tech shop, a bike-fitting room and new assessment tools to properly fit running shoes. (Equipment rentals will also be available, just as they were at the old location.) For cyclists on the go, the store offers a DIY outdoor bike repair kiosk, kitted out with tools and a bike pump. For the community, there's a meeting room available for local outdoor clubs and environmental organizations to use.
Edmonton store manager Craig Binch: "My team and I are thrilled to share this beautiful new store with new and existing members. If the old store was a hub for outdoor activity, this one can only spin a bigger, better wheel. MEC members can expect to keep growing our outdoor community here."
To celebrate the new store, the community is invited to the grand opening event on Sunday, May 7. There will be gifts for the first 100 people who arrive, fun activities throughout the day and a grand prize giveaway of a $500 MEC gift card to inspire good times outside.
The store design pays homage to the prairie landscape through saw-tooth silos that comprise the roof form. Brown brick is used in the façade in recognition of the historic brewery tower that is located nearby.
Since 2010, MEC has supported over 185 recreation and conservation projects in Edmonton by investing $250,000 through its Community Contributions program. Province-wide, MEC has supported more than 329 recreation and conservation projects in Alberta, investing over $1 million since 2010.
The Brewery District store is one of two MECs in Edmonton, the other being its South Edmonton Common location, which opened last fall. The developments come at a time of significant investment for the retailer in Alberta, as new stores are also planned for South Calgary and West Calgary in 2018 and 2019.
With a larger space now to accommodate more customers, MEC Edmonton is also providing more jobs. Fifty additional employees were hired for the new store, joining the 115 who already work there in a mix of casual, part-time and full-time positions.
Built to a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Standard, the new store joins MEC's growing portfolio of high-performance green buildings. By using renewable energy, it will be operationally carbon neutral.
MEC Edmonton Grand Opening Event
Outdoor activities, prizes and surprises!
Date: Sunday, May 7
Time: 11am‒5pm
Location: New flagship store, 11904 104th Ave NW
About MEC
MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) is Canada's go-to place for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration. Combining high-quality apparel and equipment with expert advice and firsthand experience, MEC supports a wide range of activities including camping, snowsports, watersports, cycling, climbing, hiking, running, yoga and travel. Established in 1971, MEC is Canada's largest consumer co-operative with over 4 million members across the country. A lifetime membership is available for $5. A strong backer of community initiatives, MEC has invested over $34 million and counting into non-profit organizations that support outdoor recreation and conservation. For more information, visit www.mec.ca and follow @mec, or visit one of our 21 stores nationwide.
SOURCE MEC
For more information and to arrange an interview about MEC's new Edmonton Brewery District store, please contact: Tory Nash, Account Executive at NKPR, [email protected], 416-365-3630, ext. 242; Andrew Sutherland, MEC Public Relations, [email protected], 604-707-3304 (direct)
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