L.L.Bean Flagship Store 1930s - Freeport, Maine
FREEPORT, ME ~ 1940s
 
When L.L.Bean reimagined their flagship store and campus, a robust renovation was part of the process and softwood beams from this deconstruction traveled south to us in Berwick. Being able to mill flooring, paneling, and beam stock from these salvaged beams and extend the legacy of the lumber from this iconic company has been a highlight of our summer.
 
L.L.Bean is one of the largest retail companies and tourist attractions in Maine, selling outdoor recreation equipment, clothing, and home goods. Founded and based in Freeport, where they welcome millions of visitors yearly, they now have stores across the country, Canada, and Japan. Generations of Maine residents have been employed by the company, which is also one of the state's largest employers.

THE STORY OF L.L. BEAN

Working from a single room in his brother's basement in 1911, avid outdoorsman Lean Leonwood Bean invented his Maine Hunting Shoes (later known as duck boots and then Bean Boots) with their now-famous design of a leather upper and rubber bottom. These were the first products in a long series introduced over the coming years: the field coat in 1924, the zipper duffle in 1934, and the Boat & Tote in 1944 (over 720,000 stitched in 2024).
 
The first L.L.Bean store, opened in 1917, was located above the Freeport Post Office on Main Street.  As their product offerings and customer base expanded, so did their physical retail storefront which grew with several iterations over the years, including a substantial expansion in the 1940s.

Leon Leonwood Bean

Leon Leonwood bean

THE STORY OF L.L. BEAN

Working from a single room in his brother's basement in 1911, avid outdoorsman Lean Leonwood Bean invented his Maine Hunting Shoes (later known as duck boots and then Bean Boots) with their now-famous design of a leather upper and rubber bottom. These were the first products in a long series introduced over the coming years: the field coat in 1924, the zipper duffle in 1934, and the Boat & Tote in 1944 (over 720,000 stitched in 2024).
 
The first L.L.Bean store, opened in 1917, was located above the Freeport Post Office on Main Street.  As their product offerings and customer base expanded, so did their retail storefront which grew in several iterations over the years, including a substantial expansion in the 1940s.

Leon Leonwood Bean

Leon Leonwood Bean

L.L.Bean Flagship Store After Warren Block Demolition - Freeport, Maine

L.L.Bean - 1970's

The original building, on what was known as the Warren Block, was taken down in the 1970s, and soon after this, additional improvements to the flagship store were undertaken, including the now well-known pond stocked with Maine brook trout. Several new buildings were later introduced to the campus (the Home Store, Hunting & Fishing, and Bike, Boat & Ski stores), and a green space in the middle of campus has become a venue for community events and concerts.

The original building, on what was known as the Warren Block, was taken down in the 1970s, and soon after this, additional improvements to the flagship store were undertaken, including the now well-known pond stocked with Maine brook trout. Several new buildings were later introduced to the campus (the Home Store, Hunting & Fishing, and Bike, Boat & Ski stores), and a green space in the middle of campus has become a venue for community events and concerts.

L.L.Bean Flagship Store After Warren Block Demolition - Freeport, Maine

L.L.Bean - 1970's

L.L.Bean Flagship Store Renovation Construction - Freeport, Maine

L.L.Bean - During Renovation 2025

L.L.BEAN'S CURRENT RENOVATION

Calling it their "Flagship Re-Boot", L.L. Bean is currently undertaking a major $50+ million renovation of its Freeport, Maine campus to provide customers a more immersive and interactive shopping experience.

L.L.Bean Bean Boot - Freeport, Maine

The Bean Boot

Specific Details of the Project Include:

  • A new entrance on Main Street with a grand staircase.
  • Improved accessibility for all customers.
  • A larger trout pond and stream tank.
  • An interactive Bean Boot.
  • A new full-menu, sit-down eatery.
  • A remodeled children's department.
  • Expansion of their green space, Discovery Park.

L.L.Bean Bean Boot - Freeport, Maine

The Bean Boot

Specific Details of the Project Include:

  • A new entrance on Main Street with a grand staircase.
  • Improved accessibility for all customers.
  • A larger trout pond and stream tank.
  • An interactive Bean Boot.
  • A new full-menu, sit-down eatery.
  • A remodeled children's department.
  • Expansion of their green space, Discovery Park.

Physical renovations began in January 2023 with new employee areas, mechanical upgrades, additional windows in store facades, and more accessible entrances. However, the most noticeable and dramatic changes occurred just months ago in February of 2025, when the main entrance and camping atrium of the 1940s building were razed. It was during this deconstruction that we salvaged softwood beams from the building.

L.L.Bean Salvaged Softwoods Beams

Salvaged Softwood Beams from L.L.Bean

Other players in the current renovation include: Arrowstreet Architecture and Design (architect), WBRC (architect and engineer), Sebago Technics (civil engineer), and Zachau Construction (construction management)

LUMBER SALVAGED FOR RE-MILLING

Longleaf Lumber was excited to have been able to salvage more than 10,000 board feet of mostly 8" x 10" beams of local softwoods. We are milling this lumber into flooring, paneling, and beam stock. Please ask us about our current inventory and how it can play a part in your upcoming projects.

L.L.Bean Reclaimed Softwoods Flooring Paneling

L.L.Bean Softwoods Flooring & Paneling

L.L.BEAN TRIVIA

THE L.L.BEAN LIFETIME GUARANTEE:
Leon Leonwood Bean's first line of hunting shoes was less than a success. He sold 100 pairs, 90 of which were returned after the rubber separated from the leather. After refunding money to these customers, he re-designed the boot with triple stitching and better rubber and began again. L.L. Bean's famous "Lifetime Guarantee" was born and remained in place until it was adjusted in 2018.
 

OPEN ALL THE TIME:
In 1951, Leon Leonwood Bean "threw away the keys" and declared that the store would be open 24 hours a day for all 365 days of the year. Until the COVID-19 closings in 2020, only three exceptions were made to this policy: The store was closed to honor the deaths of President John F. Kennedy in 1964, founder Leon L. Bean in 1967, and CEO Leon Gorman in 2015. Currently, customers can once again visit L.L. Bean 24/7/365.
 

THE BOOTMOBILE:
The L.L.Bean Bootmobile is a 20-foot-long, 13-foot-high, 7-foot-wide replica of the iconic L.L.Bean Boot. Currently, there are three such vehicles in the L.L.Bean fleet. Built on a truck's chassis, the mobile advertisement has traveled to special events nationwide. According to L.L. Bean, if the boot were real, its size would be 410.
 

L.L.Bean Flagship Store Renovation Sign - Freeport, Maine

Display Sign at L.L.Bean in Freeport, Maine