L.L.Bean is planning to close its outlet store in Portland, saying it wants to focus more on its hometown outlet location.

The Freeport-based retailer said yesterday it will not renew its lease at 542 Congress St. and close the store next September, according to the Portland Press Herald. Carolyn Beem, a spokeswoman for the company, said L.L.Bean will focus its attention on its outlet store in Freeport, which recently moved to the new Freeport Village Station shopping center. "It no longer makes good business sense for us to renew the Portland lease and continue to operate two stores," she told the paper. L.L.Bean also has outlet stores in Ellsworth and Bangor.

Beem said the company hoped to move the store's 14 employees to other positions within the company. L.L.Bean opened the Portland outlet store in 1996, and currently operates 15 retail locations.

Go to the article from the Portland Press Herald >>