L1 Retail Store

The L1 retail store is located at 319 E Garfield Blvd inside the historic first “L” station, originally built in 1892 to transport visitors to the World's Fair. Arts + Public Life has renovated and operated the L1 retail store since 2021 to strengthen the capacity of the South Side’s cultural sector and remove barriers to entry. The store offers 700-square-foot retail space, featuring custom-made millwork by local master craftsman Norman Teague.

Through the L1 Creative Business Accelerator Fellowship, three cohorts of entrepreneurs received free retail presence at the L1 Retail Store, gaining crucial brick-and-mortar experience and directly connecting with customers to grow their brands. Every purchase made directly benefited the fellows, fueling their growth and contributing to the South Side's economic vitality.

Building on the foundation of the L1 Creative Business Accelerator Fellowship, Arts + Public Life will launch a year of activations in 2025 that highlight the L1 Retail Store as a vital hub for entrepreneurship and collaboration on the South Side. We’re excited to welcome Peter Gaona as Arts + Public Life’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence. From March 2025 to June 2026, he’ll showcase his distinctive brand, Reformed School, along with a curated selection of South Side brands at the L1 Retail Store.

Learn more about APL’s offerings in Creative Entrepreneurship here

Learn more about the L1 and its offerings at shopL1.org.

L1's success is made possible in part by the vital support of Good Chaos, the National Endowment for the Arts, Bank of America, and the significant contribution of Raymond J. Iwanowski (Booth ‘97).