REI Co‑op is quietly setting up a local office drama, weighing where its Puget Sound footprint should land as the lease on its Issaquah satellite office inches toward expiration. Behind the scenes, landlords and brokers from I‑90 suburbs to downtown Seattle are lining up pitches, hoping the outdoor retail giant picks their building.
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, REI is evaluating office options across the Seattle area as the Issaquah lease approaches renewal, with a submission deadline of Friday, June 19, 2026, for interested landlords. The outlet reports that REI has not chosen a direction yet and is still weighing whether to renew in Issaquah, consolidate more staff into Seattle, or move to another Eastside location.
Where the Issaquah Office Sits
REI's Issaquah satellite is tucked into 2005 NW Poplar Way, a recently completed office building next to local trails and marketed as part of the Hyla Crossing neighborhood. Rowley Properties reported that REI moved into the Poplar Way site around 2021 as the first in a series of planned satellite offices under the co‑op’s reimagined headquarters model. The City of Issaquah has highlighted the building’s transit access and its proximity to trails as key reasons the location appealed to REI in the first place.
Market Signals Shaping the Decision
REI is making its call in a market that is showing tentative signs of life. CBRE reported positive net absorption in the Puget Sound office market in the first quarter of 2026 and a slight decline in vacancy. Industry reporting also indicates that early‑2026 leasing activity has leaned toward urban cores, a pattern that could nudge negotiations toward downtown Seattle or higher‑end Eastside space.
Options on the Table
On paper, REI's choices are simple enough: renew the Issaquah lease, shift more employees into a Seattle hub, or take space somewhere else on the Eastside while keeping its hybrid work setup intact. The co‑op’s earlier decision to pass on a single large Bellevue Spring District campus and instead test smaller satellite offices is part of that broader strategy, as noted in local business coverage.
Which route REI ultimately picks will hinge on a familiar mix of factors: real estate costs, recruiting dynamics, and the tradeoff between easy transit access and the outdoor amenities that many of its employees prefer.
What to Watch
As the June 19 deadline approaches, watch for lease listings, broker filings, and any official REI statement that could hint at a favorite location. Expect landlords along I‑90 and in downtown Seattle to stay especially active. Local brokers say REI’s move could become a bellwether for other Pacific Northwest employers trying to balance hybrid work with the need for in‑person collaboration space.
