L.L. Bean has shuttered its flagship store, corporate headquarters, factories and other facilities in Maine, the outdoor goods retailer told CNN on Thursday, as authorities conduct a manhunt in the area for a person of interest in mass shootings.
A spokesperson for the century-old company, one of Maine’s biggest employers, said it decided to shut the sites “out of an abundance of caution.”
L.L. Bean spokesperson Amanda Hannah said the company’s large campus of four stores in Freeport as well as its corporate headquarters in that town will be closed on Thursday. Freeport is located about 20 miles from Lewiston, where at least 16 people were killed in a mass shooting Wednesday night.
L.L. Bean said it has also closed a manufacturing facility located in Lewiston as well as another one in Brunswick and an order fulfillment center.
“The tragic events in Lewiston last night have shocked and saddened all of us at L.L. Bean,” the company spokesperson said. “Our priority is, and will remain, the health and safety of our employees and customers. Our hearts and thoughts are with everyone effected by this tragedy in our beloved home state of Maine.
L.L. Bean employed more than 3,000 people across Maine as of the first quarter, according to state statistics.
Another major employer, Hannaford Supermarkets, is also closing all of its stores in Maine until at least 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, the company said on Facebook.
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