Back when there was only " One" store in Seattle. People use to camp out around building the night before the spring sale. Jim Whitaker at a " Hands On" position and was the first employee of the store. Today REI is " Nothing" like it was and just a big company out to make a profit. Someone wrote " REI is Norstom's In The Flannel Shirt" in mens restroom back in 1977 after they opened a few more stores. It fits....