L.L. Bean Opens In Suburbs

L.L. Bean, the outdoor merchant from Maine, is making its Midwest debut Friday with its much-anticipated store at the Arboretum of South Barrington, and a second store is due to open in Skokie in November.

The almost century-old retailer known for inventing the duck boot has been slower than most catalog companies to set foot in a mall. And that's just fine with Mary Lou Kelley, vice president of retail real estate and marketing for the Freeport-based company.

"No one needs another store," Kelley said. "It needs to be more than a store."

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