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L.Bean expects to open its first Ohio store in November 2015. The store will be located at Legacy Village, a popular lifestyle center in Lyndhurst, OH , just outside of Cleveland. The 16,000 square-foot store will employ approximately 100 people and will feature an assortment of active and casual apparel and footwear, as well as outdoor lifestyle gear including hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking and winter gear and camping products.
L.L. Bean will open in the space currently occupied by Talbots, which will be relocating to a new space within the shopping center. This will be L.L.Bean’s first store in Ohio and its 23rd retail store outside of Maine.
“Most folks in the Ohio area know us mostly by our catalogs and web site,” said Ken Kacere, senior vice-president and general manager of retail at L.L.Bean. “It’s very exciting to be opening our first Ohio store, giving the Cleveland-area residents the opportunity to experience our brand in 3-D. Our stores are where the L.L.Bean catalogs and web site come to life for our customers and we know Legacy Village is going to be a great home for us.”
L.L.Bean made the decision to expand its retail presence into Ohio as part of its overall retail expansion plan and due to the high level of brand affinity the area residents have for L.L.Bean. In addition, the area is also in proximity to several abundant natural resources and opportunities for many outdoor activities, as well as a population base that enjoys engaging in a variety of outdoor pursuits. The store will allow the people of Cuyahoga County and beyond to experience first-hand everything that the legendary outdoor retailer has to offer, such as quality merchandise, a welcoming shopping environment and a large roster of ongoing demonstrations and clinics on a number of outdoor topics.
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 2014, over 130,000 people participated in these programs.
“We are thrilled that L.L. Bean has chosen Legacy Village as the home of their first Ohio location, and know that they will serve as a wonderful complement to our retailer mix,” said Legacy Village’s General Manager Susan Windle. “L.L. Bean is a trusted brand, offering classic styles and high quality merchandise that will be a refreshing addition to the retail landscape in northeast Ohio. We couldn’t be happier to welcome them to Legacy Village.”
In 2014, L.L.Bean opened three new store locations in Burlington, VT, Bloomington, MN, at the Mall of America and at the Park Meadows Retail Resort, just outside of Denver. L.L.Bean will be announcing additional store opening locations during 2015 in the coming weeks.
