FREEPORT — L.L.Bean reopened its flagship store to shoppers from near and far on Monday, showing off the results of a $50 million renovation that puts a new, two-tiered trout pond and first-floor footwear department front and center.

From the expanded lobby, a new grand staircase rises to the second floor, where an atrium-style mezzanine gives shoppers in the women’s and children’s departments overhead views of the pond and main entryway.

Around the corner from the pond is the stream tank, home to rainbow, brown and brook trout. A clear plastic dome allows children and smaller adults to raise their heads amid the swimming fish.

Freeport resident Maurine Miller and her 2-year-old daughter Alta ventured into the bubble on Monday for an underwater view.

“It’s amazing,” Miller said. “The fish are key for the kids. It’s great to have the store open again as a center of the community. We missed it.”

The building was closed for nearly two years and most retail operations shifted to a massive tent during the renovations. The campuswide project took four years. The goal was to update the original 1912 location at 95 Main St., which now leads 73 stores in the United States, 18 in Japan and 16 in Canada, in partnership with Jaytex Group.

Shawn Gorman, L.L.Bean’s board chairman, said his great-grandfather, founder Leon Leonwood Bean, would be proud that the renovation stayed true to the company’s brand, heritage and future.

“L.L.Bean is the gateway to the outdoors in Maine,” Gorman said. “It’s always been much more than a store, and that’s especially true of our reimagined flagship store.”

Greg Elder, president and CEO of the 114-year-old company, noted the planning and creativity that went into renovating the store and surrounding campus. He credited WBRC of Portland, Arrowstreet of Boston and Sebago Technics of South Portland with designing the project, and Zachau Construction of Freeport as lead contractor.

GRAND OPENING EXCITEMENT

The doors opened shortly after 8 a.m. Monday to a stream of media representatives and invited guests. After that, the store welcomed all shoppers as it resumed regular 24-7 operations.

Anita and Don Petrarca, of Branford, Connecticut, stopped by on their way to Bar Harbor for the week to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

“We come here every year for our anniversary,” said Don Petrarca, 81. “The renovation is unbelievable. I’m impressed with everything.”

The renovation reconfigured the overall layout of the store to smooth transitions between different departments that were added through the years, much like a New England farmhouse, said L.L.Bean spokesman Jason Sulham.

“Everything’s going to feel a lot more connected and be easier to find,” he said.

There’s one checkout area now, in the lobby to the left of the trout pond as you enter the store. The men’s department is to the right, and beyond that the expanded 1912 Cafe, which now overlooks Main Street and includes a lounge area.

To the rear of the lobby area, behind the grand staircase and main elevator, is women’s and men’s footwear, featuring historical displays of the iconic rubber-and-leather Bean Boots and a mural of Mount Katahdin’s ridge line.

Christine Dupuis is facilities manager, overseeing all building operations, including the trout pond and stream tank. She understands why they are so popular with shoppers of all ages.

“It brings the outdoors into the store,” she said. “It’s front and center and paramount to everything L.L.Bean is about.”

6-WEEK CELEBRATION

Level 1 in the renovated store includes camping and hiking, hunting and an archery range. Level 2 includes fishing, home and a remodeled children’s department.

Ground level includes the Boat and Tote department — L.L.Bean sells more than 1 million canvas tote bags annually — and the new Custom Shop — the company monogrammed over 200,000 items during the 2025 holiday season.

The grand opening will be celebrated across six weekends, starting this Friday through Sunday and followed by five themed weekends. Each will include activities, concerts and in-store experiences designed to showcase new and improved aspects of the renovation.

Highlights include free concerts with country artist Kip Moore on Friday evening and the rock band The Wallflowers on Oct. 23. A full schedule is available on the L.L.Bean website.

Heritage Weekend (Sept. 25-27) will showcase vintage L.L.Bean apparel; Makers Weekend (Oct. 9-11) will feature crafts and customizing opportunities; and Home Team Weekend (Oct. 23-25) will include appearances by a Red Sox legend and Maine’s Hearts of Pine soccer team.