I have been a customer for, literally, 60 years. ...

I have been a customer for, literally, 60 years. My first visit was with my parents when I was 4 in 1960. I have vivid memories of the old hardware store type building with clothing and goods piled on wooden tables. It was a place where manly men went to buy manly products so they could do manly things. It was a one of a kind destination. It was my go to supplier for clothing and gear; having LLBean clothing and gear set you apart. Their lifetime warranty (which they now deny ever having had) made the higher prices more than worth it. I only used it once in all the years as their clothing truly was that well made. I still have 30+ year old shirts in my closet.

Now, unfortunately, while still a destination, it is more of an overpriced, glamorous Walmart. It truly saddens me to say that. Progress is a good thing but losing your core values is not and I believe old LL would not be happy with what is being done to his legacy. Maybe it s me, maybe I am just a Luddite determined to cling to the past...there were very few constants in life and LL Bean, even with the new digs, used to be one of them. I hope the new LLBean finds its way back to the future.