L.L.Bean will cease bike sales with Freeport store redesign
FREEPORT — L.L.Bean is phasing out cycling equipment from its product lineup as the company completes a comprehensive redesign of its Freeport campus, according to an announcement Wednesday.
The outdoor recreation retailer will remove all cycling gear from its stores and shift its focus toward what company officials describe as heritage outdoor activities.
"We are focusing on heritage activities like hunting, fishing, family camping, watersports and winter fun," said Jason Sulham, L.L.Bean's public affairs manager.
The change means the Bike, Boat & Ski Store on Main Street — a building separate from the main flagship location — will no longer serve as a retail space. The company will continue to own the property and has outlined near-term plans for the space.
"In the near term, the Boat, Bike & Ski store will support Thule rack installations and campus events," Sulham said. "Exciting, longer-term plans for the space are expected in 2027."
Boat and ski merchandise will be relocated to the newly renovated flagship store, which the company plans to reveal to the public in September with a series of grand opening events.
The redesign represents a significant investment in the company's home base. L.L.Bean first announced the $50 million makeover in 2023, and construction has been ongoing since then. During the renovation period, much of the store's merchandise was relocated to Camp L.L.Bean, a 28,000-square-foot hard-sided tent structure erected in a nearby parking area.
The updated flagship will feature a new entrance and facade, fish enclosures for the company's renowned fly-fishing department, expanded monogramming services, and a larger kids' section. A cafe will also open within the store, and green space at Discovery Park — situated in the center of the campus — will be increased.
The September unveiling will mark the culmination of years of construction and planning aimed at reimagining the shopping experience for the company's millions of customers nationwide.
