New Englanders and New Yorkers driving up to L.L. Bean's flagship store in Freeport, ME will soon have to drive past a brand new Cabelas on the Maine Turnpike.
Nebraska-based Cabela's said it will open a 125,000-square-foot store in Scarborough, ME on May 15, about 25 miles south of Bean's flagship store. While Cabelas is more oriented toward the hook and bullet crowd, it does carry the type of outdoor apparel, footwear and gear that might appeal to some of L.L. Beans consumer base.
Cabela's first store in Maine will be located at the Gateway at Scarborough on the Haigis Parkway at Exit 42 of the Maine Turnpike.
Like L.L. Bean's headquarters store, Cabela's is expected to be a tourist attraction, drawing shoppers from hundreds of miles. Cabela's claims customers spend 3.5 hours on average at its stores.
L.L. Bean currently has ten stores stretching from Maine to Tysons Corner, VA and expects to open three stores this year in Chicago, Pennsylvania and New York.
