FREEPORT, Maine, May 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean, best known for its iconic Maine-made Bean Boot and 100% satisfaction guarantee is set to expand its retail operation with the opening of its Burlington, Vermont store. The new L.L.Bean store will be located in the popular Burlington Town Center. 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 including hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking, 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 web customers in the area, as well as the proximity to abundant natural resources and opportunities for many outdoor activities. The store will allow the people of Chittenden County and beyond to experience first-hand everything that the outdoor retailer has to offer. 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 like 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 over 100,000 people participating in these programs in 2013.
The new store is scheduled to open in late-October, with a three-day grand opening celebration.
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. L.L.Bean products are rigorously tested, guaranteed to last and always shipped free. In the past five years, L.L.Bean has donated over $6 million toward conservation and land stewardship. 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 http://www.llbean.com, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Google+ and Instagram.
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