L.L. Bean, EMS moving to Settlers' Crossing

Eastern Mountain Sports to retain climbing school, smaller retail space at Eastern Slope Inn

Two high-profile retailers of outdoor gear and clothing are moving to Settlers' Crossing retail complex, now under construction near the junction of routes 16 and 302 at the southern end of the strip. L.L. Bean, now in a shopping center next to Merlino's Restaurant, along with Eastern Mountain Sports, a landmark retailer in the Eastern Slope Inn, are scheduled to open at their new locations by late spring 2008.The lure of new, expanded, modern store space at the highly visible location is a big draw for retailers, said Settlers' Green Outlet Village General Manager Dot Seybold.L.L. Bean will occupy a one-story, 14,000-square-foot building that will feature green technology, Seybold said. It will be located in what is now a sandpit across from the lights at that intersection, and will be the first building seen by motorists traveling north on Route 16, down what is known locally as bowling alley hill.Eastern Mountain Sports will anchor the shopping center in a 14,000-square-foot store that was described by Seybold as state of the art. It will be the centerpiece, with a two-story glass atrium in front, she said Tuesday.Eastern Slope Inn owner Joe Berry said he understands that EMS will retain a smaller retail space at its present location for its climbing school and for hiking, climbing and other outdoor supplies.It is my understanding that EMS will want to remain here at the inn for their outdoor programs and some of their rentals, as well as for the climbing school and some of their climbing gear and hiking gear, Berry said Tuesday afternoon.A call placed to the marketing firm for EMS was not immediately returned. The public relations director for L.L. Bean was unavailable for comment as of press time. A clerk at the store Tuesday said it was his understanding that the store space would be rented. That retail complex's owners are listed as N. Conway Group I LLC and Ma Sobol NConway, of Winston-Salem, N.C.Located on the site of the former Yield House, Settlers' Crossing will be comprised of seven buildings, two of which have already been completed and are home to Irving, Blue Canoe, Mattress Giant, Cold Stone Creamery, Borders Express, GNC and Northway Bank.Walgreens and Starbucks will occupy stand-alone stores at Settlers Crossing and plan to be open in time for Christmas, Seybold said.Seybold noted that Settlers Crossing is just steps away from an Audubon Society-protected sanctuary which offers walking trails and beach access to the Saco River, providing an opportunity for EMS customers to immediately enjoy their new outdoor purchases, she said. The L.L. Bean building will be located on the former White Mountain Oil property that was sold to Robert Barsamian of MRM Development LLC, developer of Settlers' Crossing, by Audubon after Audubon subdivided the parcel that had been donated by the Dahl sisters.Audubon retains the riverfront acreage but scrapped its previous plans to build an eco-lodge there after it was not well-received by the community.The new complex will have space for 15 stores and is located a block south of its sister development, Settlers' Green Outlet Village.Each of the seven buildings will use a variety of materials and architectural styles, giving the development a classic New England appearance, but with modern touches including peaked, slate-style roofs, canopies, columns and dramatic landscaping elements, according to Seybold.A major visual feature will be a 35-foot observation tower between Settlers' Crossing and the existing, recently completed Irving store. The tower will attract visitors to the site to gaze above treeline to the White Mountains and to the Audubon property where they can enjoy a picnic lunch and short nature walk.The tower will also house a tourist information center hosted and staffed by the 700-member Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.Originally, Settlers' Crossing wanted the tower to measure 48 feet, but that request was turned down by the Conway Zoning Board of Adjustment, Seybold said, so they are moving ahead with plans to match the former tower that stood there with Yield House.The new 80,000-square-foot Settlers' Crossing complex is located across from the former site of Fandangle's Restaurant, which was destroyed by fire Sept. 16. Fandangle's owners Wally and Beth Campbell say they plan to rebuild and also plan to possibly add a yet-to-be-determined commercial venture on the property.The changes to the strip are the latest in a series of recent developments that include redevelopment of the Mountain Valley Mall, including construction of a new Lowe's and the recent opening of Home Depot off Barnes Road.Berry's Eastern Slope Inn Associates bought the historic hotel from Eastern Mountain Sports in 1980 and retained the retailer as a tenant. EMS had bought the inn at foreclosure in 1975.The white-columned inn was built by hotelier Harry Randall in 1926 as the Hotel Randall, the third Hotel Randall to stand on the site. It was bought and refurbished by the late Harvey Dow Gibson in January 1937, who reopened it on a year-round basis as the Eastern Slope Inn as part of his economic plan to develop nearby Cranmore Mountain and to bring skimeister Hannes Schneider to the Eastern Slope Region in 1938 and 1939, respectively.