REI rode into Kitsap last fall on a wave of enthusiasm.
About 800 people waited in line (some overnight) for the opening of the new Silverdale store.
The iconic sporting goods retailer’s entry into West Sound was hailed by both outdoor and economic development groups.
To get a sense of REI’s direct economic impact, I pulled retail sales numbers for sporting goods stores in unincorporated Kitsap County.
The chart below shows those taxable sales broken down by quarter for the last four years. It’s not hard to tell when REI opened its doors:
