By Derek Shroeder | Arizona Daily Sun
A century after Flagstaff’s downtown merchants lived in apartments over their stores, mixed-use development is returning to the city in a big way.
A 23,550 square-foot REI store selling recreational equipment will be located at Aspen Place at the Sawmill at the corner of Lone Tree Road and Butler Avenue. Part of the latest phase of development at the shopping center, the store will be near downtown Flagstaff and Northern Arizona University.
Above it will be built 222 luxury apartments. And on either side will be 35,000 more square feet of retail space.
REI alone promises to hire 50 people, but at least one local sporting equipment retailer questions the need for another national chain store in Flagstaff.