L.L.Bean, the renowned outdoor apparel and equipment retailer, is set to open a 9,500-square-foot store at the Manulife Centre in Toronto this summer. The new store will be located on the concourse level of the shopping complex, occupying a space previously tenanted by the LCBO. The liquor store relocated to a street-facing location at the corner of Bloor Street and Balmuto Street in November 2021, paving the way for L.L.Bean’s arrival.
The lease deal for the new L.L.Bean store was brokered by Andrew Laudenbach of Oberfeld Snowcap, representing the retailer. On the landlord’s side, Manulife was represented by Arlin Markowitz and Alex Edmison and the CBRE Toronto Urban Retail Team. The addition of L.L.Bean to the Manulife Centre aligns with the complex’s positioning as a premium urban retail destination, catering to both local residents and visitors.
The store will cater to the busy Bloor-Yorkville area, which experiences significant foot traffic from nearby subway stations and work places. The neighbourhood has seen rapid densification with the development of thousands of new high-rise residential units. Known for attracting affluent visitors, the area is also home to a large number of high-net-worth residents living in upscale apartments.
The Evolution of Manulife Centre
Located at 55 Bloor Street West, Manulife Centre is a prominent mixed-use complex that has undergone extensive renovations to modernize its retail offerings. Originally constructed in the 1970s, the centre comprises a 51-storey residential tower and a 19-storey office block, both positioned above a three-level shopping centre and an underground parking garage.
A major redevelopment project, completed in 2019, transformed the commercial podium. The update included a sleek glass enclosure that enhanced the building’s street presence, while also introducing new retail spaces. One of the key additions during this period was the arrival of Eataly, Canada’s first location of the globally recognized Italian marketplace and dining concept. Spanning 50,000 square feet, Eataly has since become a major anchor tenant, drawing significant foot traffic to the centre.
Other notable tenants at Manulife Centre include high-end jeweller Birks, which completed a renovation and reopened in April 2019, as well as premium denim retailer Over the Rainbow Jeans, which relocated to the centre in the same year. In October 2023, restaurant chain Earls opened a location within the complex, adding a new dining option to the area. Other retailers in Manulife Centre include Loblaw City Market, Shoppers Drug Mart, Indigo Books & Music, Ron White, and several others.
Manulife Centre’s 2019 renovation also focused on improving the pedestrian experience along the Bloor Street corridor. Streetscape enhancements included widened sidewalks, mature trees, integrated seating, and modern lighting. These updates have reinforced the centre’s position as a key shopping and lifestyle destination in the heart of Toronto.
L.L.Bean’s Growing Canadian Presence
L.L.Bean’s expansion into the Manulife Centre reflects the company’s ongoing growth in Canada. The retailer first entered the Canadian market in 2018 through e-commerce, along with a partnership with Jaytex Group who are independently operated and proudly Canadian since 1978, holding the brand’s Canadian wholesale & retail license. The success of its online platform paved the way for a broader retail expansion.
In 2019, L.L.Bean opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Canada in Oakville, Ontario. This marked the beginning of a steady retail rollout across the country. The company has opened more than a dozen stores in Canada, with plans for further expansion.
A Steady Expansion Strategy
L.L.Bean has strategically placed its Canadian stores in high-traffic shopping centres and retail districts. Some key store openings include:
- 2020: Ottawa Train Yards, Georgian Mall in Barrie.
- 2021: Shops at Don Mills in Toronto, Dartmouth Crossing in Halifax, Deerfoot Meadows in Calgary, and two stores in British Columbia at Victoria’s Mayfair Mall and Burnaby’s The Amazing Brentwood.
- 2022: The Boardwalk in Kitchener, Cataraqui Mall in Kingston, Champlain Place in Moncton, Canada One in Niagara Falls, and West Edmonton Mall in Alberta.
- 2023: CF Promenades St-Bruno & Faubourg Boisbriand in Quebec
As of 2024, L.L.Bean operates 15 stores across Canada, with continued growth expected. The new Toronto store at Manulife Centre further solidifies the brand’s foothold in the Canadian market, complementing its existing retail network.
A Legacy of Quality and Outdoor Innovation
L.L.Bean was founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean. An avid outdoorsman, Bean developed the iconic Maine Hunting Shoe—a waterproof boot that combined leather uppers with rubber bottoms. The product was designed to keep feet dry while hunting and fishing, a feature that proved immensely popular among outdoor enthusiasts.
Despite initial setbacks, including a high rate of product returns due to design flaws, Bean remained committed to customer satisfaction. He honoured a money-back guarantee, refined the product, and expanded his business through a mail-order model. Over the decades, L.L.Bean grew its product line to include a broad range of outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear, all known for their durability and quality craftsmanship. L.L.Bean remains a privately held company.
I’m a bit surprised to hear that LL Bean is still expanding. My local store is large, bright, but always empty, to the point where I wondered if the company was resonating with Canadian consumers.
Can’t wait
The huge signs are an eyesore every time I get my groceries at City Market. Really, in this political climate, opening a store that is preppy and has Republican conservative written all over it. Talk about bad optics. I will feel sorry for the sales staff when it eventually opens, and day after day the store is empty.
Good luck.
You sound so optimistic Faith. You must be fun to chum around with. First, LL Bean is based in Maine and Maine has elected a Democrat since 2019 to run the state. The Governor’s name is Janet Mills and she’s been elected twice by the folks of Maine. Additionally she’s the only governor to date that stood up to Trump. She did it in front of the press so you can watch the video. It took place at the National Governors Association Dinner in February of this year at The White House. She told Trump Maine will support transgender athletes under their constitution and when Trump threatened her and her state of not receiving federal funding she told told him, “We’ll see you in court.” And she did and she won. Secondly if you want to talk about Republican conservatism let’s talk about the City Market where you choose to do your food shopping. It’s owned by Loblaws who is owned by the Westons who were found guilty of price fixing bread and were ordered to pay a $500 million dollars settlement. That doesn’t sound like to me it has Democratic roots attached to it. Talk about bad optics. I feel sorry for people like you who can’t research a topic intelligently before spreading their “thoughts”.