ENFIELD, CT — A sizable space in the Brookside Plaza shopping center on Hazard Avenue, vacant since the closure of Bed Bath & Beyond last March, will soon be occupied by an L.L. Bean store.
Town Manager Chris Bromson said the Maine-based clothing and outdoor recreation equipment retailer has signed a lease to open its fourth Connecticut store. It is expected to open next fall.
Bed Bath & Beyond had been in the plaza since 2007, but the New Jersey-based chain of houseware stores, which at one time numbered 900 retail locations, filed for bankruptcy last year.
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L.L. Bean’s nearest Connecticut store to Enfield is in South Windsor at the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk. The retailer also has stores in New Haven and Danbury.
Brookside Plaza is adjacent to Interstate 91, and Bromson said officials at Regency Centers, the plaza’s leasing company, have told him there is considerable interest from other national chains exploring the possibility of moving into town.
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“I think that is clearly indicative of why L.L. Bean would come here,” Bromson said.
Founded in 1912, L.L. Bean carries a variety of hiking, weather and other utility boots, produces a full clothing line, and sells outdoor equipment such as tents, backpacks and firearms. The company currently operates in more than 50 locations in the United States, and also has a strong presence in Japan and Canada.
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