5 Things You Didn’t Know about Freeport, Maine’s L. L. Bean

L.L. Bean has been in Freeport, Maine ever since it opened in 1912 and to this day still is a family-owned company. Mainers and tourists alike flock to the store to get some of the best outdoor gear, clothing and a long list of other products that are uniquely L.L. Bean.

But how much do you really know about L.L. Bean? Here are 5 things you may not know about Maine's L.L. Bean.

1. L.L. Bean's founder created the Maine Hunting Shoe to keep his feet dry

Leon Leonwood Bean started L.L. Bean in 1919 in the small town of Greenwood, Maine in Oxford County. He then moved to Freeport and sold his Maine Hunitng Shoes, which eventually were renamed named Bean Boots. Bean sold them by mail to non-resident hunting license holders. However, 90% of his first run of the now-famous boots were defective, so he repaired and replaced them free of charge. It was the beginning of L.L. Bean's famous return policy.

2. The flagship store is open 24-7...mostly.

The flagship store in Freeport has been open 24 hours a day, seven days a week since 1951. Before 2020, the flagship store had only closed three times. Once to honor the death of President John F. Kennedy in 1964 again for the death of founder Leon L. Bean in 1967 and again to honor the death of his grandson and CEO of L.L. Bean for 34 years, Leon Gorman in 2015.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all L.L.Bean stores were closed indefinitely on in March of 2020 but began to open again in May.

3. The first outlet store was opened in North Conway

The very first L.L. Bean outlet store opened in North Coway in 1988. Today they have  57 stores in 19 states in the US, 22 stores in Japan, and 13 stores in Canada.

4. L.L. Bean still manufactures their products here in Maine

L.L. Bean still keeps manufacturing here in the state where it all started. There are 250 employees between manufacturing facilities in Lewiston and Brunswick where Bean Boots and totes are made.

5. Order by mail is no longer offered.

5. Order by mail is no longer offered.

On February 26, 2024, L.L.Bean, discontinued mail orders, which had been part of L.L. Bean since its beginning, and shifted to online and telephone orders only.