SOUTHINGTON — Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean Clearance Center officially opened in the former Bob's Stores location in the RK Center at 835 Queen Street on Friday.
“We're very excited to have L.L.Bean in Southington,” said Economic Development Director Louis Perillo. “Southington has a population that's very sports-minded and loves outdoor activities, so we think it's a very good fit for our community.”
The pop-up location is an extension of the company’s outlet concept with deeper discounts on apparel, outerwear, and footwear. On Friday, the 22,877-square-foot showroom was stocked with women’s clothing, men’s apparel, hunting gear, backpacks, luggage, outerwear and shoes.
Deena Mancini, a Southington resident and first-time customer, said she looked forward to today's grand opening. She used the visit to get ready for winter, purchasing a hat and a sweater to match.
“I liked it. It was cute and had good stuff,” she said. “But the prices were still a little higher than I thought, being a clearance center.”
Aaron Bedik, who was in town with his significant other visiting her family, said they’ve been to regular store locations throughout the country, but this was their first time shopping at an L.L.Bean Clearance Center.
“It's a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be. But I think it's got a good selection,” he said. “I would come back if I lived here.”
They all agreed, though, that they were a little confused by how the store was set up and had difficulty finding the sale items.
“They advertised 40 to 70 perent off, but I only saw 40,” Bedik said. “But the prices are a little high normally. So, I mean, even 40 percent off is still a good deal.”
L.L.Bean spent the past two weeks preparing for the opening following Bob's exit. Bob's announced the closure of its Southington location in May after its parent company laid off workers at its Meriden warehouse and headquarters. Nearly a dozen stores in its home state of Connecticut and 16 more across the Northeast were scheduled to close.
Perillo said the town's ability to fill the space quickly shows how vital and valuable Queen Street is.
Before Bob's short tenure, the location housed Bed Bath & Beyond for a decade or more.
"We understand the dynamics of retail in this changing environment, so to have a national retailer like L.L.Bean is very important to us," Perillo said. "And I'm an L.L.Bean customer, so the availability of a brick-and-mortar right here, I think, is extremely convenient. And I think Southington will bode quite well for them."
This will be L.L.Bean’s fourth Connecticut store. The company also opened a location in Enfield in the Brookside Plaza earlier this month.
Oct 18, 2024
Staff Writer
Ciara Hooks is a reporter with the Record-Journal. She has been with Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2024. When not working, she can be found trying out the many great restaurants in the state, shopping, listening to music and spending time with family.