Steff D.
Yelp
I don't know, maybe it's because I'm a Maine kid, but LL Bean is a brand we've always had in our lives, has always been reliable, and that we trust. I grew up only using their backpacks for school; and, now, I only use their hiking backpacks/poles for my adventures into the woods. Do I own a pair of Bean Boots? I sure do! They're mens, though, because they don't make womens shoes wide enough for my enormous flat feet (seriously). The service here is - and is known for being - both friendly and out-of-their-way helpful (we recently spent an hour with an employee who helped us find the perfect chelsea boot for my partner).
Visiting the flagship store is an adventure, and that's what this review is actually focused on. Because you should definitely visit... but during their seasonal programs (which, even as a local, I get excited for)!
If you're visiting January through June, ignore this.
But, if you're visiting:
1. In the summer: they have a huge line-up of things to do on their campus in the summer including free concerts (with well known bands), yoga in the park, art in the park, storytime for kiddos, interactive demos of their products, movie nights, and more.
2. In October: they partner with Camp Sunshine for a Pumpkin Festival and have literally THOUSANDS of jack-o-lanterns on display, live music, a kid's costume parade, etc. The date changes, but it's usually mid-October!
3. At the holidays: oooooooh, we love the LL Bean campus in December! Their Northern Lights (which I think usually runs mid-November to January 1st) event features thousands and thousands of twinkling lights, reindeer, the opportunity to meet Santa, free hot cocoa (though I wish they'd have non-dairy/plant-based options!), a model train, and winter activities (sometimes "ice skating"). We go several times during the month and just sit on the warming benches, looking at all the lights. It's lovely.
Thanks, LL Bean, for caring about/engaging with/treating your local community!