Thank You for Supporting Shop L1

Shop L1 is closing its digital doors as we consolidate our online presence, but the L1 Retail Store is still open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Arts + Public Life’s mission to support South Side creative entrepreneurs continues. You can find information and updates about our initiatives to support creative entrepreneurs on the Arts + Public Life website.

L1 is a creative business accelerator program and retail store housing three POC locally-owned businesses on the Arts Block. Launched in August 2020, L1 is located inside of the historic first “L” station, built in 1892 along Garfield Boulevard in Washington Park, and operated and managed by Arts + Public Life, an initiative of UChicago Arts.

L1 exemplifies Arts + Public Life’s mission to spark culturally stimulated growth on the South Side of Chicago and increase opportunities for communities that have been left out of economic development. Underinvested communities lack access to established systems and face disproportionately greater challenges in launching and sustaining business ventures.

L1 Retail Store

319 E Garfield Blvd, Chicago, IL 60637

TUESDAY - SATURDAY, 11AM-7PM

Retail locations can provide more than a place to buy material goods, they can also serve as community hubs, advocacy spaces and create a vibe that reflects the surrounding community.
— Peter Gaona, REFORMEDSCHOOL