L.L. Bean has been in Canada for a few years now. I am not an early adopter. This visit was my…read morefirst at any of its stores in Canada.
Over a month ago, I was at Georgian Mall for the Barrie Ribfest that was in drive-thru format. While driving over to the exact ribfest parking lot location, I noticed an L.L. Bean sign. I didn't have a chance to walk around this mall thanks to going to three different Yelp experiences that day (some would call me crazy, but I like determined). I vowed to return. That return trip happened yesterday.
I didn't look at the mall map in advance. It is rare for me these days. I guessed. I saw the business's name at an entrance and decided to park by it. Although it was busy at around 2 pm, I didn't have any problem finding a parking spot. I parked near the Moxie's, which is near this entrance.
I liked guessing. Sure enough, L.L. Bean is the first store on your left that you see when you walk through this mall entrance. Sweet!
This store is big and bright. A woman welcomed me. It was a nice touch. No sales folks were following me around the store. It felt like a leisurely stroll.
Full disclosure: Years ago, well before I knew what Yelp was, I did a road trip to the east coast, took a ferry with my car over to the States, and drove back through the States back home. One of my stops was the flagship L.L. Bean store in Freeport, ME. I loved it so much, especially posing next to an oversized set of signature boots.
I wish that this store had that same magical feel. Instead, I looked at the pretty puffy jacket colours. They looked cool and warm. Sadly, you're looking at shelling out at least $300 for one. Ouch!
I am a casual person, so t-shirts, cashmere sweaters, and hoodies work for me clothes-wise. You get all of them here. The prices seemed jacked up to accommodate the exchange rate and perhaps more. It's the only downside that I can think of. The quality, colour selection, and style still make me happy.
I like the footwear here. I started with a pair of purple Rieker Mary Jane shoes that L.L. Bean used to carry years ago. I still have a blue suede pair of slip-on shoes. The best thing is that it carries shoes in a woman's size 11.
If you are looking for a sale, there's a sale section in the back left corner of the store when you walk in. It wasn't heavily discounted, but 20% off is better than nothing.
You can get pretty cool gifts if you don't know your recipient's pant or shirt size. There are insulated beverage tumblers, comfy beds for your dog or cat, and cozy sherpa throws. I enjoyed looking at everything, including the travel accessories and bags.
Although I didn't buy anything, I was thrilled to walk into this store and check out the merchandise. It's nice that I can get something from L.L. Bean driving up north a bit rather than ordering online, and dealing with shipping, duty, and a longer wait to have it in my hands.
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