Freeport, ME, September 12, 2017
More Adventures Are in Store for The Prairie State: L.L.Bean to Open Its Third Illinois Store in Oak Brook, Fall of 2018
Freeport, Maine, outdoor retailer’s newest Illinois store is part of its ongoing national retail expansion strategy
Internationally recognized outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its L.L.Bean Boots and legendary customer service, continues its national retail expansion with the opening of its third Illinois store, scheduled to open the fall of 2018. The L.L.Bean store will be located at Oakbrook Center, a premier shopping destination and outdoor mall with an expansive array of department stores, specialty shops and an abundance of one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment options in Oak Brook, Illinois. The 18,000-square-foot store will feature an assortment of active and casual apparel, outerwear and footwear, as well as a variety of outdoor lifestyle gear. The store will employ approximately 70 people and will exist as a community outdoor resource for high-quality gear and apparel, as well as technical know-how. When it opens, this will be L.L.Bean’s 41st retail store outside of Maine. L.L.Bean currently has two other stores in Illinois, with locations in Skokie and South Barrington.
"DuPage County features 600 acres of lakes, 47 miles of rivers and streams, and more than 450 miles of trails, so there’s not only an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, but a population base that regularly takes advantage of them," said Ken Kacere, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Retail. "We look forward to infusing a bit of the Maine essence and L.L.Bean brand into the area and empowering folks to get outdoors with great equipment, apparel and outdoor expertise."
Of particular note will be the inclusion of L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Schools, which will offer demonstrations, clinics and introductory hands-on activities like snowshoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, archery and fly casting, all designed to make it easy for people to engage in outdoor activities for health, fitness and recreation. L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools courses are offered at every L.L.Bean Retail Store. In 2016, over 150,000 people participated in these programs.
The new Illinois store will allow the people of Oak Brook and beyond to experience firsthand everything the legendary outdoor retailer offers: quality merchandise, exemplary customer service, a welcoming shopping environment and an ethos to always do what’s right by its customers, employees, the environment and the community.
About L.L.Bean, Inc.
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading multichannel merchant of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. Still family owned, Shawn Gorman, great grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean, was named Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2013. While its business has grown over the years, L.L.Bean continues to uphold the values of its founder, including his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. L.L.Bean operates 34 stores in 16 states across the United States, along with 25 stores in Japan. The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, ME, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year. L.L.Bean can be found worldwide at www.llbean.com, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.