Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) is opening a 2,200-square-foot store in Whistler Village this fall, introducing a significantly smaller retail format as the Canadian outdoor retailer continues to invest in its store network.
The store will open at 104–4338 Main Street in Tyndall Stone Lodge, in a retail space previously occupied by Arc’teryx. It will become MEC’s 25th location nationally, seventh in British Columbia and first in the Sea to Sky corridor. MEC is targeting a soft opening on October 31, followed by a grand opening around Whistler’s resort opening weekend in late November. MEC Whistler new store and year…
The Whistler location represents a substantial departure from the larger stores historically associated with MEC. The company will use the smaller space for a tightly selected assortment suited to Whistler and the surrounding Sea to Sky market, supported by access to MEC’s broader inventory online.
“The size of the store is new for us, but what people experience when they walk through the door should be unmistakably MEC,” said Peter Hlynsky, CEO of MEC. “You should be able to talk to someone who knows the mountains, understands the gear, and can help you make a good decision.”
Hlynsky said Whistler will also allow MEC to learn from a format that “could shape how we serve other markets in the future.”
A Much Smaller MEC
At 2,200 square feet, the Whistler store is considerably smaller than the large-format locations traditionally associated with MEC, where broad assortments can span camping, hiking, climbing, cycling, snowsports, apparel and footwear.
Whistler will instead carry a focused assortment of regional and international outdoor brands alongside MEC Label, with products selected for the four-season needs of the resort community and Sea to Sky corridor. Customers will also have access to MEC’s wider assortment through MEC.ca, including delivery to the store for pickup where available. MEC Whistler new store and year…
Staff expertise will remain central to the smaller format, with MEC emphasizing employees familiar with the equipment, terrain and conditions in the region.
“MEC has been helping Canadians get outside for more than 55 years, and as we think about where and how we grow, Whistler is a natural fit,” Hlynsky said. “It’s a community that knows the outdoors, expects a lot from its gear and values advice from people who have actually used it.” MEC Whistler new store and year…
MEC Enters an Established Outdoor Retail Market
Whistler gives MEC access to one of Canada’s most established outdoor recreation markets, while placing the retailer among a concentration of technical outdoor, ski and snowboard businesses serving residents and destination visitors.
The new store’s space in Tyndall Stone Lodge was previously occupied by Arc’teryx, which has since relocated elsewhere in Whistler Village. MEC will join a market that already includes international outdoor brands and independent specialist retailers.
The location will also showcase MEC Label products. The line is designed by the company’s in-house team in Vancouver, with MEC saying its staff test products in outdoor conditions that include the nearby Coast Mountains. MEC Whistler new store and year…
Whistler’s year-round visitor economy gives the store a customer base extending beyond local residents. The broader Sea to Sky corridor is closely tied to skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, climbing and other outdoor activities.
Smaller Formats Emerging at MEC
The Whistler opening follows another small-format experiment by MEC in British Columbia.
In June, MEC opened its first permanent standalone Gear Swap Store alongside its Kelowna location. The roughly 2,200-square-foot space allows members to trade in used outdoor gear for credit, purchase secondhand equipment and access repair services. MEC has described Kelowna as a test-and-learn environment for the concept.
Gear Swap serves a different purpose from Whistler, which will operate as a regular MEC store with a curated assortment. Both represent departures from the conventional large-format MEC model.
MEC has similarly described Whistler as an opportunity to learn. Hlynsky said experience from the store could help shape how the retailer serves other markets, although the company has not announced a broader rollout of the format. MEC Whistler new store and year…
Investment Following Return to Canadian Ownership
The Whistler opening comes during a period of investment following MEC’s return to majority Canadian ownership in 2025.
MEC traces its roots to Mountain Equipment Co-op, founded in Vancouver in 1971. The former member-owned co-operative was acquired by Los Angeles-based Kingswood Capital Management in 2020, ending the co-operative ownership structure.
In May 2025, control shifted to a group of Canadian investors led by Tim Gu, chairman of Unisync Corp. Hlynsky and Chief Merchandising Officer Chris Speyer were also part of the investor group, while Kingswood retained a minority interest. MEC had 24 standalone stores at the time of the transaction.
MEC has since pursued several initiatives across its stores and product business. Along with the Kelowna Gear Swap concept, the retailer has reinvested in its Laval and Kelowna stores, revived its printed catalogue and accelerated product development through MEC Label. MEC Whistler new store and year…
Community programming has also expanded. Train for the Trails, a free national program focused on trail-running skills and confidence, brought thousands of participants together at MEC stores, according to the company. MEC Whistler new store and year…
The Whistler store adds another format to those investments, applying MEC’s assortment, staff expertise and digital offering to a footprint substantially smaller than its conventional stores.
October Opening Planned
MEC is targeting October 31 for the Whistler store’s soft opening, ahead of the winter season. A larger grand opening is planned around Whistler’s resort opening weekend in late November, with a Locals Night also planned beforehand for the Sea to Sky community. MEC Whistler new store and year…
Following the opening, MEC will operate 25 stores nationally. The company says it has more than five million members across Canada.
