Outdoor lifestyle brand L.L.Bean opened its first downtown Toronto store on August 22 at Manulife Centre, securing nearly 10,000 square feet on the concourse level at 55 Bloor Street West. The location marks the brand’s 16th Canadian store and first entry into a metropolitan downtown market, positioning L.L.Bean directly across from Indigo Books with direct TTC subway access.
L.L.Bean’s Canadian operations are managed by Jaytex Group, which holds the licensing agreement for all retail locations across the country. Founded in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the Maine-based company built its reputation on functional outdoor gear backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The brand operates stores across the United States, Canada, and Japan while maintaining a significant e-commerce presence.
“Opening in the heart of downtown Toronto marks an exciting step in L.L.Bean’s continued Canadian growth,” said Dalia Shayo, Executive Vice President at Jaytex Group. “We’re bringing the brand’s heritage of timeless style, craftsmanship, function, and outdoor spirit to one of Canada’s most vibrant areas.”
The downtown Toronto opening represents a significant shift for L.L.Bean, which has traditionally operated in suburban shopping centres across Canada. The nearly 10,000-square-foot footprint allows the brand to showcase its complete product range, including signature items like the Bean Boot and monogrammable Boat and Tote bag alongside four-season outdoor apparel and home goods. The location offers on-site monogramming services, a feature that has proven popular at other L.L.Bean locations.
L.L.Bean’s arrival completes the tenant mix following Manulife Centre’s $100 million redevelopment, which added 35,000 square feet of new retail space. The transformation repositioned the property from a traditional office-retail complex into a lifestyle destination anchored by three major tenants: Eataly (Canada’s first location), the renovated Indigo Books flagship, and now L.L.Bean. This tenant combination creates a unique lifestyle-focused retail environment that differentiates Manulife Centre within Toronto’s competitive downtown market.
The timing aligns with broader changes in retail real estate, as brands seek to capture urban consumers who increasingly value versatile products suitable for both professional and recreational use. L.L.Bean’s downtown entry places the brand among luxury retailers along the Bloor Street corridor, where retail performance frequently exceeds $2,500 per square foot.
For the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, L.L.Bean’s opening adds a new retail category to an area traditionally dominated by luxury fashion and jewelry brands. The outdoor lifestyle retailer brings a different price point and product focus to the corridor, potentially attracting customers who might not typically shop in the area. The brand’s presence could signal broader acceptance of lifestyle retailers in Toronto’s most prestigious retail district.
The location benefits from significant residential development in the immediate area, with more than 30 condominium projects adding over 10,000 units to the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood. This growing residential base provides a built-in customer foundation for retailers willing to serve local residents rather than relying solely on destination shopping traffic. The TTC subway access makes the store accessible to customers from across the Greater Toronto Area.
Manulife Centre’s repositioning as a lifestyle destination creates an interesting retail ecosystem where food (Eataly), books (Indigo), and outdoor gear (L.L.Bean) anchor the concourse level. This combination could encourage longer shopping visits and cross-shopping between brands, particularly as the tenant mix attracts customers seeking experiential retail rather than traditional luxury shopping.
The success of L.L.Bean’s downtown Toronto location will be closely watched by other outdoor lifestyle brands evaluating urban market opportunities in major Canadian cities. The brand’s ability to attract and retain customers in an expensive downtown location could influence similar expansion decisions by competitors seeking to establish urban retail presence beyond traditional suburban mall formats.
Additional Photos from the Grand Opening
Dustin Fuhs is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail, Toronto’s premier source for retail and hospitality industry news. As the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication, Dustin brings over two decades of expertise spanning retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality sectors. His experience includes leadership roles with industry giants such as The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Recognized as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025, Dustin delivers insider perspectives on Toronto’s evolving retail landscape, from emerging brands to established players reshaping the city’s commercial districts.