REI Closing Stores On Black Friday, Encouraging Customers To #OptOutside Instead

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — While some retailers are making a splash by announcing they aren't opening on Thanksgiving, one retailer has decided to stick it to the biggest shopping day of the year.

Flying under the #optoutside banner, REI has announced it is closing all 143 of its stores for Black Friday and making it a paid holiday for their employees.

CEO Jerry Stritzke released a statement touting the move as something counter to the shopping blitz the day after Thanksgiving.

"While the rest of the world is fighting it out in the aisles, we'll be spending our day a little differently," he said.

The company has stores in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom and Stockton.