L.L.Bean has opened a downtown Toronto location, marking a milestone for the American outdoor retailer’s Canadian expansion. The 9,500-square-foot store is located on the concourse level of Manulife Centre at 55 Bloor Street West, a busy hub in the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood.
The new store reinforces L.L.Bean’s strategy of targeting high-traffic urban centres. Its opening underscores the brand’s confidence in the Canadian market, where it has steadily expanded since 2019.
The lease agreement was facilitated by Andrew Laudenbach of Oberfeld Snowcap on behalf of L.L.Bean. Representing the landlord, Manulife, were Arlin Markowitz and Alex Edmison of CBRE’s Toronto Urban Retail Team.
The addition of L.L.Bean supports Manulife Centre’s ongoing transformation into a premium retail destination. The shopping complex has actively curated a tenant mix that balances fashion, lifestyle, and dining, appealing to both local residents and visitors.
What Shoppers Will Find at the Bloor Street Store
The new L.L.Bean store at Manulife Centre brings a wide assortment of the brand’s most recognized product categories to the downtown Toronto market. Shoppers will find the company’s well-known apparel collections for men, women, and children, including seasonal outerwear, knitwear, and casual clothing designed for both urban and outdoor lifestyles.
Footwear plays a central role, anchored by the brand’s iconic Bean Boots, alongside hiking shoes, slippers, and winter-ready boots suited for Canadian climates. The store also features L.L.Bean’s popular line of bags and accessories, with its Boat and Tote bags and backpacks prominently displayed.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find a selection of gear, including camping and hiking equipment, packs, and small essentials curated for urban shoppers with a love for the outdoors. Home goods, another hallmark of the brand, are represented through flannel bedding, blankets, and lifestyle items that reflect L.L.Bean’s rustic New England heritage.
The assortment has been tailored for the urban customer while still staying true to the brand’s roots, balancing performance products with lifestyle-driven offerings. The result is a downtown store that appeals equally to outdoor adventurers, commuters, and households living in Toronto’s core.
L.L.Bean’s Canadian Growth Story
L.L.Bean entered the Canadian market in 2018 through e-commerce, partnering with Toronto-based Jaytex Group, which has operated in Canada since 1978 and holds the brand’s exclusive wholesale and retail license. Building on its online success, the company opened its first Canadian store in Oakville, Ontario, in 2019.
From there, the retailer embarked on a steady rollout of physical stores across the country. In 2020, new locations opened at Ottawa Train Yards and Georgian Mall in Barrie, strengthening its Ontario presence. The following year saw further expansion into both urban and suburban markets, including Toronto’s Shops at Don Mills, Dartmouth Crossing in Halifax, Deerfoot Meadows in Calgary, and two British Columbia stores at Victoria’s Mayfair Mall and Burnaby’s The Amazing Brentwood.
Growth continued in 2022 with additional locations in Kitchener’s The Boardwalk, Cataraqui Mall in Kingston, Champlain Place in Moncton, Canada One in Niagara Falls, and West Edmonton Mall in Alberta. By 2023, the brand entered Quebec with stores at CF Promenades St-Bruno and Faubourg Boisbriand.
As of August 2025, L.L.Bean operates 15 stores nationwide, strategically positioned in high-traffic shopping centres and retail hubs across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The opening of the new Toronto store at Manulife Centre represents its first foray into a downtown urban retail setting.
Bloor-Yorkville’s Growing Foot Traffic
L.L.Bean’s location is strategic. The Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood continues to evolve as one of Toronto’s most dynamic retail and residential districts. The area has experienced rapid densification in recent years with the construction of multiple high-rise condominiums. This has brought thousands of new residents, many from affluent demographics, further increasing demand for retail and lifestyle services.
The Manulife Centre is also directly connected to Toronto’s subway system, adding to its accessibility and daily foot traffic from commuters, office workers, and shoppers alike.
Originally built in the 1970s, Manulife Centre underwent a substantial redevelopment completed in 2019. The $100 million project modernized the retail podium with a sleek glass façade, improved streetscape, and new retail units. The transformation enhanced the property’s visibility and reinforced its position as a downtown shopping destination.
One of the most notable additions during the redevelopment was Eataly, the 50,000-square-foot Italian food marketplace, which marked its Canadian debut at the site. Eataly’s success has significantly boosted visitor traffic, creating a halo effect for other retailers.
Other major tenants include Birks, which reopened its flagship jewellery store in 2019 after extensive renovations, Over the Rainbow Jeans, and Loblaw City Market. Restaurant chain Earls opened in October 2023, further strengthening the centre’s mix of offerings.
It was also during this period that the LCBO relocated to a prominent street-level corner at Bloor Street and Balmuto Street in November 2021, paving the way for L.L.Bean’s arrival on the concourse level.
L.L.Bean: A Century of Outdoor Retail Heritage
Founded in 1912 in Freeport, Maine, by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company began with the Maine Hunting Shoe, a waterproof boot that revolutionized outdoor footwear. Despite early setbacks with manufacturing flaws, Bean’s insistence on a money-back guarantee and commitment to quality built enduring customer loyalty.
Over the decades, the company has expanded its product line to include outdoor apparel, footwear, camping equipment, and home goods. Today, L.L.Bean is recognized internationally for its durable products and customer service, with its flagship store in Freeport famously open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The brand continues to emphasize outdoor enjoyment, environmental stewardship, and quality craftsmanship, maintaining its privately held structure and strong brand identity.
