When my brother, Josh, visited us in Maine this past spring with his girlfriend, Olga, he had one request for the trip — visiting the LL Bean store in Freeport. Mind you, this is a couple that lives in New York City and has all the shopping they could desire at their fingertips. However, they’d never been to Maine and therefore had never visited the original LL Bean Store. He was stoked when I told him visiting Freeport was part of the itinerary I’d planned for us.
Then when my childhood best friend took a cruise that stopped in Portland and we planned to spend her shore day together, she had one request — head to the LL Bean store in Freeport. We brought my dogs along and had a grand time.
LL Bean Store Freeport Maine
Making a mecca to the LL Bean store in Freeport is hardly new for our family. My mother, who grew up in Maine, would talk about midnight road trips with her high school friends to Bean, because the store is open 24 hours a day. Whenever we visited my grandparents, we would always take a day trip to Freeport to visit Bean. And when my daughters were little and we came to Maine on vacation, we made that same trip.
These days that location, now called the LL Bean Flagship Store, is still open 24 hours a day. However, it is hardly the only Bean location in Freeport, let alone Maine.
Also in Freeport:
- LL Bean Bike, Boat & Ski Store
- LL Bean Hunt & Fish Store
- LL Bean Home Store
- LL Bean Outlet
Basically, this single store has become this extended retail complex along Main Street in Freeport. Some of the stores are connected. Others are merely across the plaza, such as the home store. Either way, you can get your fix shopping for anything LL Bean here.
Also, in 2024, LL Bean has announced more major renovations coming down the pike. This includes building a new, grand staircase at the store’s entrance, a bigger trout pond and a larger main entrance. I wonder if the giant boot will be moving, too.
The LL Bean Big Boot
You may have seen the New York Times article about the LL Bean Bootmobile. Much like the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the Bootmobile is a car that is fashioned as a giant LL Bean duck boot and it travels across the country.
Well, outside the flagship store, there is also a giant boot, albeit a stationary one. You’ll find these giant boots at other LL Bean stores across the nation. For instance, when we lived in the Pittsburgh area, there was a giant boot outside the Bean store there, too.
Anyway, when visiting Freeport, it’s almost a rite of passage to take a picture in front of the boot. So of course Josh and Olga wanted a picture of all of us there, too. A kind stranger was happy to snap this photo for us.
Shopping at LL Bean
As I mentioned earlier, there are multiple, niche-specific stores on the LL Bean campus. To be honest, whenever we visit Freeport, we spend our time at the main retail store. It’s where I got my iconic Duck Boots — great in the winter — and Bill has added to his supply of flannel shirts.
If you’re looking for the LL Bean outlet, it is actually across Main Street as part of the Freeport outlets. LL Bean also has outlets in two other Maine cities: Bangor and Ellsworth.
One of the most common questions people have about shopping at the L.L.Bean store in Freeport, Maine is about store hours. As I mentioned earlier, the flagship store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That includes Christmas — great if you have last-minute gifts you need to buy and you happen to be in Maine. The LL Bean Hunting and Fishing Store is also open 24/7/365, most likely because it is physically attached
Three of the other LL Bean stores in Freeport have different hours. As of this writing, here’s what they are:
- LL Bean Bike, Boat & Ski Store: Open 7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week
- LL Bean Home Store: Open 7 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week
- LL Bean Freeport Outlet Store: Open 9 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week
Prices at LL Bean
I’ll be honest with you: LL Bean can be expensive. However, their products last a long time and, for the longest time, they came with a lifetime warranty. Now that’s just a limited warranty but, trust me, the stuff holds up.
As far as prices in person versus online, you will not find many differences. In other words shopping online versus shopping in person does not mean you’ll get cheaper prices one way or the other.
What you will find when shopping at the store in Freeport is a huge selection. Also, the various stores have a generous amount of well-staffed dressing rooms. So it’s no problem to try on a ton of stuff until you find what you want.
Daily Online Markdowns
The one caveat to that: the LL Bean Daily Markdown. This is an online-only event that is updated twice each day in two different categories. That’s when you’ll find the lowest prices on a few items that LL Bean sells.
Here is the link to access the Two-a-Day Daily Markdown page on the LL Bean website. It updates at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eastern each day.
Also, here is the link for the once-a-day Daily markdown page on the LL Bean website. It focuses on travel and gear exclusively.
Special Features and Attractions at LL Bean
LL Bean is such a big part of Freeport that the store has come to represent much more than just retail therapy. Across from the main retail campus is LL Bean Discovery Park. This is where, throughout the year, they hold special events. It’s one of the many things to do in Freeport throughout the year. This includes:
- LL Bean Yoga in the Park
- Outdoor Movies in the Park
- Free Concerts
- Ice Skating in the Winter
Did I miss answering any of your burning questions about the LL Bean stores in Freeport, Maine? Let me know by posting a comment or asking a question below.
Here are some other things going on in Freeport in the next week or so.
Free and Cheap Things To Do in Southern Maine
Here are FREE and cheap things to do in Southern Maine in the coming week.