MEC to open second store in Alberta capital, at South Edmonton Common

Outdoor retailer's new 35,000-sq-ft location set to host community at grand opening on Saturday

VANCOUVER, Nov. 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Alberta's go-to-place for outdoor gear and know-how, MEC is doubling its presence in the provincial capital with the much-anticipated opening of its new 35,000-square-foot South Edmonton Common store. The South Edmonton location complements MEC's existing downtown store.

To celebrate the new store, the retailer is inviting Edmonton's outdoor community to attend a grand opening event this Saturday, November 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The first 200 people through the door will receive a special welcome gift and for every new member who signs up at the grand opening event MEC will donate $10 to CPAWS Northern Alberta. Prizes will be offered throughout the day, and one lucky participant will win a $5,000 MEC shopping spree.

MEC CEO David Labistour said, "Our 250,000 Edmonton members embody MEC's passion for all manner of outdoor activities – from camping, hiking and climbing to cycling, running, paddling and snowsports. We're thrilled to now be able to serve them at South Edmonton Common, one of Western Canada's premiere open-air shopping districts."

"My staff are super excited to welcome existing and future members alike to our beautiful new South Edmonton Common location," said store manager Garry Beers. Day in day out, supporting people to be active outdoors is what we do, and the new store provides a great mix of gear, services and community programming to help them live a healthy fun lifestyle."

MEC's South Edmonton store is designed to serve as a community hub. Inside, members will find several services including a full-service bike repair and ski-tech shop, a bike fitting station and an equipment rental program. A community meeting room will be available for use by local outdoor clubs and environmental organizations. A family washroom and wheelchair accessible point-of-sale (cash desk) are also provided.

Community events such as the MEC Race and Century Ride series and MEC Snowfest will be supported through both MEC Edmonton locations.

Since 2010, MEC has supported over 120 recreation and conservation projects in Edmonton by investing more than $190,000 through its Community Contributions program. Province-wide, MEC has supported more than 300 recreation and conservation projects in Alberta, investing over $1 million since 2010.

The design of the South Edmonton Common store provides an inviting shopping environment both inside and out. Wood is featured extensively throughout, including the distinctive floating canopy that marks the entrance. Together, the materials are meant to evoke the northern Alberta landscape.

MEC's new South Edmonton store is part of the co-op's growth in several provinces, which includes significant investments in Alberta. Not only will MEC's existing downtown Edmonton store relocate to a new larger location at the city's Brewery District next spring, new stores are planned for South Calgary and West Calgary in 2018 and 2019. Plus, earlier this month, it opened a new store in Laval, Quebec and in a few weeks' time it will open its second store in the GTA in North York, Ontario.

Grand Opening

Date: November 12, 2016
Time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Location: MEC South Edmonton Common
Address: 1624 99 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6N 1M5

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 20 stores nationwide.

SOURCE MEC

Image with caption: "MEC – Alberta’s go-to place for outdoor gear and know-how, will be hosting the grand opening of its new 35,000-square-foot South Edmonton Common store this Saturday, November 12, with prizes offered throughout the day, and one lucky attendee winning a $5,000 MEC shopping spree. (CNW Group/MEC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161110_C4845_PHOTO_EN_814975.jpg

For further information: For more information and to arrange an interview about MEC's new South Edmonton store, please contact: Tory Nash, Account Executive at NKPR, [email protected], 416-365-3630, ext. 242; Andrew Sutherland, MEC Public Relations, [email protected], 778-320-4291 (mobile), 604-707-3304 (direct)