Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I N O. I I JA N UA R Y 2 7 , 2 0 2 5 10 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E Make new connections with the Gorham business community! REGIONAL SP ONSORS HORS D'OEUVRES / CASH BAR / NETWORKING WITH AREA BUSINESS EXECUTIVES S PACE IS S PACE IS L IMITED L IMITED, BE S URE TO , BE S URE TO R EG IS TER! R EG IS TER! Please register ahead at www.mainebiz.biz/OTRGorham25 PRESEN T ING SP ONSOR W E D N E S D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 1 2 / 4 : 0 0 – 6 : 0 0 P M / S E B A G O B R E W I N G C O M P A N Y GORHAM B R I E F With flagship store in renovations, LLBean shifts retail focus to giant 'tent' B y A l e x i s W e l l s L .L.Bean, the Freeport-based clothing and outdoor gear maker and retailer, opened its largest "camp- ing tent" on Jan. 15 to serve as temporary retail space during the renovations of its flagship store. The company, led by President and CEO Stephen Smith, completed a $110 million makeover of its head- quarters building in 2023 and is in the midst of a $50 million revamp of its flagship store and Freeport campus. The project team includes Zachau Construction of Freeport; Boston-based architect Arrowstreet Inc.; architects and engineers WBRC of Bangor; and South Portland engineering firm Sebago Technics. With most of the flagship store moving into the final phase of construction, "Camp L.L.Bean" will temporarily house men's, women's and children's apparel and outerwear. "While we ramp up the greatly anticipated re-boot of our flagship store, we wanted to offer customers a memorable, interim shopping experience that cap- tured the heart and heritage of L.L.Bean," said Greg Elder, chief retail officer at L.L.Bean. "So, we decided to build our biggest tent ever and invite customers to go camping with us as they have done through our products for 114 years." The climate-controlled 28,000-square-foot tent, built with Arena Americas, a special events installa- tion company, was designed to replicate the L.L.Bean shopping experience, the retailer said. During construction, the Hunting and Fishing store will remain open 24/7 and temporarily house footwear, boats, totes and travel products. Camping and hiking equipment have moved to the Boat, Bike and Ski store and pet products are available in the Home Store. Biddeford outlet store to open L.L.Bean plans to open a 14,500-square-foot outlet store next to Market Basket in Biddeford this spring. "We are very pleased," Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman told Mainebiz. "L.L. Bean will be a great local partner, and I need a new pair of Bean boots." The company is actively accepting applications for the new location. According to a job listing, the store sales volume is expected to be $5 million to $7 million. This will be the fourth L.L.Bean outlet in Maine, joining Freeport, Bangor and Ellsworth locations. L.L.Bean opened its largest tent yet on Jan. 15, in this case to serve as temporary retail space during renovations of the flagship store in Freeport. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F L . L . B E A N

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