L.L. Bean to Open in Chicago

Freeport, Maine L.L. Bean will open its first store in the Chicago region in September. The move represents the outdoor gear and apparel retailer’s first store expansion outside the Northeast corridor.

The chain will build a 30,000-sq.-ft. store at the Arboretum at South Barrington, in Chicago’s affluent northwest suburbs. It will feature L.L. Bean’s popular Outdoor Discovery School, where expert instructors offer “Walk-On Adventures”—introductory hands-on experiences in such sports as kayaking and fly-fishing.

As part of the retailer’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the store will be built to U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. The Arboretum location will be L.L. Bean’s 7th “green” store, incorporating creative use of recycled and reclaimed materials, as well as state-of-the-art energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems.