L.L.Bean to Open First New York Store in Albany
L.L.Bean's Newest Green Store Slated to Open September 14 at the Colonie Center
FREEPORT, ME. August 27, 2007—New York residents who love the outdoors will want to head to the Colonie Center on Friday, September 14, as L.L.Bean celebrates the Grand Opening of its newest environmentally friendly store at the Colonie Center, Albany, New York.
The Grand Opening celebration promises fun and adventure for the whole family. The doors will open at 9 a.m. Friday, September 14, and will remain open 24 hours a day during the weekend-long event. Night-owl shoppers will be treated to refreshments, live music and giveaways after midnight Friday and Saturday.
L.L.Bean will give away gift cards – worth up to $500 – to the first 200 customers, and signed Maine storybooks to the first 100 kids on Friday, September 14. Expert instructors from L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Schools® will be offering free clinics, demonstrations and L.L.Bean's popular fly-casting Walk-On Adventures. Other grand opening activities include The Weather Channel's interactive weather wall; an opportunity to register to win a ski vacation to Mount Snow Ski Resort in Vermont; Fun with Bugs with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve; and Butterfly Exploration with Scotia-Glenville Children's Museum.
Bean's newest store is approximately 30,000 square feet and built to US Green Building Council's LEED standards. The store incorporates environmentally friendly building materials and fixtures, and uses systems and technology to increase energy efficiency, thereby reducing their environmental footprint. It will employ approximately 125 people and offer a selection of high-quality outdoor apparel and gear, including hiking, fly-fishing, kayaking, biking and camping products.
"L.L.Bean has a strong commitment to protecting and preserving our outdoor spaces. Because of this commitment, it is important for us to create a sustainable retail environment for our customers,” said Ken Kacere, L.L.Bean's Senior Vice President and General Manager of Retail. “With the opening of our Albany Store, L.L. Bean is excited to offer a broad range of recreational products, more hands-on opportunities with our Outdoor Discovery Schools, and a strong connection to local conservation and recreation organizations that serve this community.”
The Albany store is the eighth store outside of Maine the company has opened as part of an initiative to expand its brick and mortar retail business. After the grand opening weekend, Albany regular store hours will be Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other L.L.Bean stores are located in McLean, Virginia; Columbia, Maryland; Marlton, New Jersey; West Lebanon, New Hampshire; Burlington, Massachusetts; Center Valley, Pennsylvania; South Windsor, Connecticut; and Freeport, Maine, the site of L.L.Bean's original flagship store, Hunting & Fishing Store and Bike, Boat & Ski Store.
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a leading retailer of quality outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began as a one-room operation selling a single product, the Maine Hunting Shoe. While its business has grown substantially, L.L.Bean still upholds the values of its founder and continues his dedication to quality, customer service and a love of the outdoors.
Contact: Carolyn Beem, 207-552-6022 or cbeem@llbean.com
