Outdoor retailer L.L. Bean is expanding its national presence with plans to open a store in Indianapolis in the fall of 2024, marking this the first L.L. Bean store in Central Indiana. The highly anticipated addition will be housed at Rivers Edge, a shopping plaza on East 82nd Street, as reported by FOX59. This expansion comes alongside the opening of three other stores: one already operating in Ulster, New York since May, and two more, in Enfield, Connecticut and Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania planned for the same fall period.
With these new openings, L.L. Bean is showcasing a strong commitment to its physical retail outlets, maintaining that the brick-and-mortar experience is a vital component of their strategy according to FOX59, the Indianapolis store is part of "continued dedication to brick-and-mortar retail" as part of its overall strategy and that Greg Elder, L.L. Bean's chief retail officer, remarked, "As we continue to expand our retail footprint beyond New England, we are eager to strengthen our connection with customers and communities across the country, enabling more people to experience the restorative power of time outside."
Hiring for the Indianapolis location is anticipated to start later in the summer, with the company seeking both full- and part-time employees that interested candidates should consult the careers section on L.L. Bean's website for opportunities, as mentioned by WISH-TV. Further details regarding the new store will be released closer to its opening date.
The expansion doesn’t halt at the year's close; in 2025, L.L. Bean has set its sights on launching additional outlets in the Southeast and Midwest regions while also completing a $50 million revamp of its flagship campus in Freeport, Maine, adding, “This expansion plan will not only strengthen our national footprint, but it is also a pivotal step in reinforcing L.L.Bean’s position as a leader in the retail space and outdoor industry,” President and CEO Stephen Smith explained in a statement highlighted by The Daily. The expansion underscored by Smith confirms the company's strategy to augment retail presence as they currently run 57 stores across 19 states in the U.S., along with international locales that include 22 stores in Japan and 13 in Canada
