I've never encountered them here in PA or in my guitar-browsing in the nyc/northern new jersey areas. But then again, I've never seen an Avalon by Lowden so that just means, well, I haven't seen or played one!
It is worth noting that the Sammick company makes a staggering amount of the guitars made in Korea, which are then sold under various names. So don't be thrown simply by a name you're not familiar with if it seems to be a decent instrument otherwise.
If you don't mind springing for shipping and they have a return/exhange policy you can live with, what can it hurt to try it?