L.L. Bean is set to open its first store in Vermont at Burlington Town Center in October of 2014. The opening, scheduled for late-October, will be marked with a three-day celebration, said the company.
The 18,290 square-foot store will employ approximately 100 people and will feature two levels showcasing an assortment of active and casual apparel and footwear, outdoor gear and camping products. This will be L.L. Bean’s 20th retail store outside of Maine and its first store in Vermont.
“Our stores are where the L.L. Bean catalogs come to life for our customers,” said Ken Kacere, senior vice-president and general manager of retail at L.L. Bean. “It’s very exciting to open our first Vermont store just steps away from Lake Champlain which offers countless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Burlington is a great fit for L.L. Bean.”
L.L. Bean made the decision to expand its retail presence into Burlington due to the large number of catalog and wWeb customers in the area, as well as the proximity to abundant natural resources and opportunities for many outdoor activities, said the company.
Of particular note will be the inclusion of L.L. Bean’s Outdoor Discovery Schools, which will be offering a wide variety of demonstrations, clinics and introductory hands-on activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, archery and fly casting, all designed to make it as easy as possible 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 with more than 100,000 people participating in these programs in 2013.
