"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," said Ken Kacere, L.L. Bean's senior vice president and general manager of retail.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- L.L. Bean Inc., the outdoor goods and apparel retailer, has announced plans to open its first Ohio store -- and hire about 100 workers -- at Legacy Village shopping center in Lyndhurst this November.
L.L. Bean, a 103-year-old, fourth-generation family-owned retailer known for its rubber-soled Bean Boots, plaid shirts, free shipping, and 100-percent satisfaction guarantee, will open a 16,000-square-foot store in the space now occupied by Talbots, Talbots Petites, Talbots Woman, and Talbots Accessories & Shoes.
Talbots is moving across the street to an 8,600-square-foot space where Coldwater Creek and Christopher & Banks used to be.
L.L. Bean's first Ohio store will carry "an assortment of active and casual apparel and footwear, as well as outdoor lifestyle gear including hiking, fishing, fly-fishing, kayaking, winter gear and camping products."
"Most folks in the Ohio area know us mostly by our catalogs and web site," said Ken Kacere, L.L. Bean's senior vice president and general manager of retail, in a written announcement. "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."
This will be the Freeport, Maine-based retailer's 23rd retail store outside of Maine, and is part of its overall push to expand its store count nationwide. L.L. Bean opened its first store outside of Maine in Tyson's Corner, Va., in 2000.
L.L. Bean noted that the Legacy Village store is near "several abundant natural resources and opportunities for many local outdoor activities, as well as a population base that enjoys engaging in a variety of outdoor pursuits."
As in its other locations, the Lyndhurst store will house one of L.L. Bean's Outdoor Discovery Schools, for demonstrations, clinics and hands-on activities such as snowshoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, archery and fly-casting.
"We are thrilled that L.L. Bean has chosen Legacy Village as the home of their first Ohio location," said Susan Windle, general manager of Legacy Village, in a statement. "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."