L1 CREATIVE BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AND RETAIL SHOP

Launched in August 2020, L1 is a creative business accelerator and retail store located in Washington Park on the Arts Block along the 300 E Block of historic Garfield Boulevard. Operated and managed by Arts + Public Life (APL), an initiative of UChicago Arts at the University of Chicago, L1 is situated under the Chicago Transit Authority’s Green Line elevated tracks inside of the historic first “L” station built in 1892. The L1 accelerator program provides both a 10-month fellowship and 700 square feet of shared brick and mortar retail space for the inaugural cohort of three South Side entrepreneurs. The fellowship is presented in partnership with Proximity, The Silver Room Foundation’s urban planning and social impact arm. Small South Side business owners, small business development foundation staff and project partners served on the jury.

This commerce focused addition to the Arts Block builds on APL’s commitment to creative entrepreneurship and is an extension of the arts and culture redevelopment efforts of UChicago Arts. L1 is on the Arts Block which includes the Arts Incubator, opened in 2013, the Green Line Performing Arts Center, opened in 2018 and the Arts Lawn, opened in 2023. The renovated space is furnished with custom-made millwork designed and fabricated by local master craftsman, Norman Teague of Norman Teague Design Studio.

To qualify for the fellowship, applicants had to be a previously established business. Jury evaluation of applicants also considered four factors: (1) quality and/or craftsmanship of their arts-based service or product; (2) readiness of the applicant to take advantage of the opportunity, and demonstration that participation in the accelerator will impact ability to scale and grow; (3) commitment to the South Side and an established South Side customer base; and (4) relevance of the product or service to the neighborhood landscape and ecology of other cultural amenities in Washington Park, as well as fit with the other offerings in the store.

During their 10-month fellowship, L1 fellows receive subsidized retail space, elevation-focused mentorship, and extensive training and educational resources from seasoned experts, tailored to the selected businesses’ needs. They also receive guidance on business strategy, management, leadership, social responsibility, sales, marketing, brand positioning, finance, and business law. Additional curricular support and services are provided through a collaboration with UChicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

L1 is supported in part by Good Chaos