L.L. Bean plans to shut down its outlet store in downtown Portland. L.L. Bean spokeswoman Carolyn Beem told the Portland Press Herald that the company wants to concentrate on its outlet store in Freeport. She said the 14 employees at the Portland store were told Monday that the outlet would close in September.

Portland downtown officials told the paper that the closing is a blow to the city's retail sector. Janis Beitzer, Executive Director of Portland's Downtown District says the Congress Street outlet is popular with cruise ship passengers.

Beem says L.L. Bean hopes to find other positions in the company for the Congress Street store's 14 employees. The store opened in 1996, and is one of L.L. Bean's 15 outlets, the paper reports.