L.L. Bean,Freeport, Maine, New England

It all began with the boots. It was Leon Leonwood Bean who stitched a leather upper to a waterproof rubber shoe and made up a flier advertising his Maine Hunting Shoe. When most of the boots were returned to him with stitching problems, he issued full refunds and used the experience to perfect his product. It was a business model that over the next half century made his clothes the de facto uniform of New England: trustworthy, traditionally styled and weatherproof as a duck.

Now the flagship store in this place has expanded and modernized along the way and now the place is as big as a mall. In fact, some 3.5 million visitors come in this place every year.