Some roles come along once. This is one of them.
PHG is opening 1912 Café — a chef-driven breakfast and lunch concept anchored by a specialty coffee bar — inside the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine. It is a partnership built on two brands that share the same core belief: that quality, authenticity, and genuine care for people are never out of style.
LL Bean's flagship in Freeport is not a typical retail location. It is one of the most visited destinations in New England, drawing millions of guests each year who arrive not just to shop, but to experience something. The 1912 Café will be at the center of that experience — the first thing guests smell when they walk in, the reason they linger longer, and the memory they carry home.
PHG is looking for a General Manager to open this concept, build its culture, and lead its team from day one. This person will not inherit a finished operation — they will shape it. That is both the challenge and the opportunity.
The Ideal Candidate
We are not simply hiring someone to run a schedule and watch food costs. We are looking for a leader — someone whose instinct is to invest in people, whose standards are naturally high, and whose enthusiasm for the guest experience is visible on the floor every day.
The right candidate likely has a background in specialty coffee, fast-casual, or café operations, and has grown into management the right way — by learning the work from the inside. They understand what it takes to open and operate a high-volume breakfast and lunch concept. But more than that, they understand what it means to build a team that people are proud to be part of.
You are the right person if you...
- Lead from the floor, not the office. Your team sees you in the work — not just evaluating it.
- Set standards by example. You do not ask your team to do anything you would not do yourself.
- Build culture intentionally. You know that culture is not a ping-pong table or a mission statement on the wall. It is what your team does when you are not watching.
- Are fluent in the numbers without being defined by them. You understand P&L, labor, COGS, and waste — and you use data to lead smarter, not just leaner.
- Bring genuine hospitality to every guest interaction. You remember names. You notice when something is off. You never treat service as a transaction.
- Thrive in an opening environment. You are energized by ambiguity, not paralyzed by it. You can build systems where none exist and remain steady when things are imperfect.
- Are proud to represent two exceptional brands. You understand what LL Bean and PHG stand for, and you take that responsibility seriously.
What You Will Own
Operations
- Own the full daily operation of 1912 Café from pre-opening setup through close, ensuring consistent execution across coffee, breakfast, and lunch service.
- Own the full daily operation of the Beer Garden from pre-opening setup through close, ensuring consistent execution through hours of operation.
- Develop and maintain all standard operating procedures, opening and closing protocols, and service standards from the ground up.
- Partner with PHG leadership on menu execution, vendor relationships, and concept refinement during the launch period.
- Ensure all health, safety, and food handling standards are met or exceeded at all times. Maintain current ServSafe certification.
- Manage inventory, ordering, and waste with precision — building habits from day one that establish a healthy cost structure.
People Leadership
- Recruit, hire, onboard, and develop a team across management, coffee bar, front of house, and kitchen.
- Build and maintain the weekly schedule, balancing labor efficiency with team wellbeing and operational coverage.
- Conduct regular one-on-ones, shift debriefs, and performance conversations. Invest in your team's growth, not just their compliance.
- Foster an environment where hospitality is a shared value, not a job requirement — where staff feel proud of the work they do and the place they represent.
- Partner with shift managers to ensure clear communication, smooth handoffs, and consistent leadership across all shifts.
Financial Stewardship
- Manage a P&L with particular attention to labor percentage, food and beverage cost of goods, and controllable expenses.
- Review and report on daily and weekly performance metrics to PHG leadership.
- Identify opportunities to grow revenue through upselling, programming, and operational refinements as the concept matures.
- Calibrate staffing and hours in the first 90 days based on real volume data, establishing benchmarks that inform long-term scheduling.
Brand & Guest Experience
- Serve as the primary face of 1912 Café to LL Bean staff, leadership, and guests — an ambassador for both the PHG and LL Bean brands.
- Respond to guest feedback with grace, urgency, and follow-through. Build a reputation for a café that gets it right and makes it right when it doesn't.
- Collaborate with LL Bean's store leadership team on programming, events, and any operational needs that arise from the partnership.
- Contribute to the ongoing evolution of the concept — you are not just maintaining something, you are building something.
Qualifications
Required
- 3–5+ years of progressive food and beverage management experience, with at least 2 years in a General Manager or equivalent role.
- Demonstrated success managing a full-service or high-volume café, coffee bar, or fast-casual concept — ideally with multi-daypart service.
- Strong financial acumen: proven ability to manage and improve P&L, labor scheduling, and inventory.
- Exceptional people leadership — a track record of building, developing, and retaining teams in a hospitality environment.
- ServSafe Manager Certification (current or ability to obtain before opening).
- Availability to work a flexible schedule during the pre-opening and opening period, including weekends.
Strongly Preferred
- Experience opening a new concept or location from scratch.
- Background in specialty coffee operations or barista training — comfort with espresso bar standards and coffee program management.
- Experience working within or alongside a retail or hospitality brand at scale.
- Familiarity with the Maine market — understanding of the seasonal tourism landscape and Freeport specifically is a meaningful advantage.
- Genuine enthusiasm for both brands: LL Bean's outdoor, lifestyle identity and PHG's commitment to thoughtful, guest-first service.
We are accepting expressions of interest and formal applications directly through PHG. If this opportunity resonates with you — or with someone you know — we want to hear from you. [email protected]
Pay: $65,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
