L.L.Bean Continues Brick-and-Mortar Growth With 7 Retail Stores Set to Open in the U.S. and Canada in 2021

Following its strongest fiscal year in nearly a decade, L.L.Bean announced today it will open seven new retail stores across the U.S. and Canada in 2021. This announcement is an important milestone in the company’s omnichannel growth plan, representing continued investment in its direct-to-consumer, brick-and-mortar model. In 2020, L.L.Bean made significant strides in channel diversity via its first-ever U.S. wholesale partnerships, large-scale design collaborations, e-commerce investments and a growing footprint in Canada, ensuring L.L.Bean is accessible to more customers through new channels and locations.

U.S. Expansion

The 108-year-old outdoor retailer will open three new stores in the U.S. by the end of 2021, with openings beginning as early as next month. The first new retail location is set to open in Salem, N.H., on May 14 as part of an expansive lifestyle center – Tuscan Village – that features sprawling trails, greenspace and a pond, viewable from the back porch of L.L.Bean. The center is home to retail stores, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, residential space, and medical and academic facilities. It will be L.L.Bean’s sixth store in New Hampshire. Additionally, new stores are on-track to open this fall in Millbury, Mass., in The Shops at Blackstone Valley – the largest open-air shopping center in Central Massachusetts – and in Amherst, N.Y., in The Boulevard – a vibrant open-air center that is home to 50 shops and restaurants. These openings mark the eighth L.L.Bean store in Massachusetts and the seventh in New York state.

“While 2020 posed many challenges to our business, including the temporary closure of all retail stores, we are committed to increasing our brick-and-mortar presence in order to serve more communities,” said L.L.Bean President and CEO Stephen Smith. “We know that a record number of people reconnected with the outdoors amidst the pandemic, some for the first time, and we see these new habits remaining firmly in place going forward.”

Canada Expansion

L.L.Bean has seen continued success in Canada since entering the market in 2018 with the launch of its Canadian e-commerce site, which was shortly followed by the opening of its first Canadian retail store in Oakville, Ont., in 2019. In 2020, alongside Jaytex Group, the heritage outdoor brand opened three additional stores in Barrie, Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario, and will continue this momentum with four new store openings across three provinces by the end of 2021.

The new brick-and-mortar locations are slated to open this fall in Victoria and Burnaby, British Columbia, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and Calgary, Alberta, and come in response to L.L.Bean’s growing customer base – which saw 100% growth in 2020 – and continued customer interest in a larger physical retail presence across Canada.

“Despite the hurdles that the pandemic presented, in 2020 we successfully opened three new L.L.Bean retail locations in Ontario and saw strong overall performance in the Canadian market,” said Howie Kastner, President of Jaytex Group. “This continued success speaks to the inherent love of the outdoors and eagerness for new adventures that Canadian customers share with the brand. We look forward to continuing to explore opportunities across Canada and support this growing customer base.”

Flagship Store Returns to 24/7 Model

In addition to new store openings, L.L.Bean’s Flagship Store and Hunt & Fish Store in Freeport, Maine, will return to a 24-hour schedule on May 3. Known for around-the-clock service, these stores temporarily closed as a result of the pandemic and re-opened with limited hours in May 2020. The two other stores on L.L.Bean’s campus – Home and Bike, Boat & Ski – will extend hours beginning May 3, operating from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Shawn Gorman, Executive Chairman of L.L.Bean, said of the store announcements: “My great-grandfather opened our Flagship Store more than 100 years ago and, in 1951, he implemented our signature 24-hour operating model as a way to accommodate sportsmen and women who would drive through Freeport in the middle of the night to ensure an early start the next morning. Returning to 24-hour service, extending hours and opening new stores all mark milestones for our organization and communities as we look toward a post-pandemic era and see a continued interest in the outdoors.”

Health and Safety First at All Locations

With the health and safety of guests and employees of utmost importance, the company will continue to lead the way with advanced precautions in retail locations, including requiring guests and employees to wear face coverings, increased sanitation, social distancing, plexiglass barriers at checkout, the option for curbside service and more. Customers can read more about our extensive health and safety measures at llbean.com.

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 2020, L.L.Bean donated over $6 million to 100+ outdoor and community-enriching organizations, many of which focus on increasing access to outdoor spaces. L.L.Bean operates 54 stores in 19 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.

About the Jaytex Group

The Jaytex Group, founded in 1978 is a privately-owned company with a diverse portfolio of private label and lifestyle licensed brands in Canada.  Partners Eric Grundy, Howie Kastner and Leo Grunberger commit to deliver the highest standards of creativity, brand integrity and product quality.  Jaytex has worked with some of the best fashion brands from around the world, specializing in design, importing and sourcing, through multiple distribution channels.  The Jaytex Group is a proud sponsor and supporter of numerous community organizations and fundraising initiatives.   www.jaytexgroup.com