Outdoor sports retailer REI wants to open a store inside the former Sears at Colonie Center, a town official confirmed today.

REI received zoning verification for the space in August, the first step in the review process, said Joe LaCivita, director of planning and economic development.

Related Content Macy's seeking property tax cuts at Colonie Center and Crossgates

Under the plans, REI would fill 21,500 square feet of the former Sears and 4,500 square feet of the old garden center, for a total of about 25,000 square feet, LaCivita said.

The Times Union first reported REI's interest in the retail space.

Sears closed two years ago, leaving a large vacancy in the second-largest mall in the Albany region. Seritage Growth Properties owns the former Sears real estate, and has been attempting to subdivide the building with four tenants.

REI will need a building permit to remove asbestos and demolish interiors to prepare for the new store. LaCivita didn't know the timeline for when it could open, but estimated it would be next spring or summer.

A representative for REI couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Based in Kent, Washington, REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) is a member-owned cooperative with 155 stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia. There are four REI stores in New York: Rochester, Yonkers, New York City and Long Island.

The Colonie Center store would be next to LL Bean, another outdoor sports retailer.