Trout pond, grand entryway and colossal tent in the works as LLBean redevelopment continues

An interior view shows high ceilings and a water feature.

Rendering / Courtesy L.L.Bean Inc. The new entrance will include a “grand staircase” and a trout pond.

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An in-store eatery, a new entrance and “grand staircase” and a larger trout pond are on the construction docket this fall, as outdoor retailer L.L.Bean continues reconstruction of its flagship store and retail campus in Freeport.

“We’re coming to a very exciting juncture in our reimagining, where our vision is coming to life,” said Greg Elder, the company’s chief retail officer.

The outdoor gear and clothing retailer launched the $50 million revamp in January 2023 with a goal to "to more fully activate the brand’s purpose of enabling people to experience the restorative benefits of being outside,” the retailer said at the time.

A building wiht a plaza and lawn and pedestrians.

Rendering / Courtesy L.L.Bean Inc.

Planned for construction are a new entrance and plaza, seen here from an area called Discovery Park.

The project team for what was dubbed "the Freeport Experience" is Zachau Construction of Freeport; Boston-based architect Arrowstreet Inc.; architects and engineers WBRC of Bangor; and South Portland engineering firm Sebago Technics.

The 220,000-square-foot store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and draws more than 3 million visitors per year.

Freeport has been the company’s home since 1912 and the campus has evolved into an unofficial hub of the downtown area.

The revamp’s mission was partly to include a more attractive and accessible entrance and façade on Main Street that's better suited for pedestrians.

Progress so far

Features completed so far include:

New employee areas designed to provide natural daylight, office areas, break spaces and other accommodations.
A new mechanical penthouse that sits on top of the current building and has allowed for upgrades in mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that provide a foundation for a more energy-efficient flagship building.
Upgrades to the Main Street and Justins Way facades, adding windows to bring in more natural daylight and new entrances to the north and south of Main Street.

Coming up

Developments about to get underway include:

Installing a larger trout pond with multiple tiers, more viewpoints and enhanced accessibility for better fish-watching.
Overhauling a stream tank with twice as much swimming space for schools of fish and two viewing bubbles.
Remodeling the children’s department with a design inspired by a children’s focus group.
Creating a monogramming space.
Creating the biggest L.L.Bean tent ever made.
Expanding Discovery Park to bring more green space to the campus and enhance outdoor programming. Discovery Park, at the center of the campus, hosts seasonal events like concerts and ice skating.

To enable upcoming construction, the current camping atrium will be razed, and noticeable site work will begin later in the year.

The campus will remain open throughout construction with guides and wayfinding signs in place.

With 3 million annual visitors, the Freeport store could be considered one of Maine's largest tourist attractions, second only to Acadia National Park, which last year had 3.87 million visitors.

L.L.Bean Inc. was founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, beginning as a one-room operation selling a single product known as the Maine Hunting Shoe. Still family-owned, Shawn Gorman, Bean’s great-grandson, was named chairman of the board of directors in 2013.

“When my great-grandfather, L.L., opened his first retail space above the Freeport post office in 1917, he never imagined what it would become,” said Gorman. “But he knew what he wanted it to be. A place that strived to bring customers in, for the purpose of helping them get right back outside.”

Today, the company operates 57 stores in 19 states, 22 stores in Japan and 13 stores in Canada, in partnership with Jaytex Group.

Earlier this summer, the company said it would step up its out-of-state expansion plans.

After opening a retail store in Ulster County (Kingston), N.Y., in May, the company is planning to open locations during the fall in Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Enfield, Conn.; and Indianapolis.

L.L.Bean said it was planning additional retail expansion in 2025, targeting the Southeast and Midwest.

In March, L.L.Bean posted a decline in annual sales, from $1.8 billion in 2022 to $1.7 billion last year.