L.L. Bean to open Beijing store

US outdoor goods and clothing retailer L.L. Bean will open a store in Beijing on September 27,  the first of five stores it plans for China, AP reported. The 3,000-square-foot store, to be located in Beijing’s Solana Mall, will be operated as a joint venture with South Korean firm Youngone Corp. The store will be L.L. Bean’s first non-US retail operations outside of Japan, where the company operates 15 stores. L.L. Bean CEO Chris McCormick said the stores in China would benefit from a growing interest among Chinese in the outdoors and outdoor activities.