KU discusses building entrepreneurship hub in former McLain’s Market space

KU student entrepreneurship programs will soon have a new home, as the School of Business is discussing turning the former McLain’s Market building, located at 1420 Crescent Road, into an Entrepreneurship Hub.

Kameron Macrorie | @kameronmacrorietv

The space has been vacant since McLain’s Market announced their permanent closure in March of 2023.

KU Endowment purchased the building in March of 2024 using funds from an anonymous $50 million donation to the KU Endowment Association.

Now, the former cafe space might be the future home of student entrepreneurs and innovators.

The School of Business houses many co-curricular entrepreneurship programs, such as Jayhawk Consulting, RedTire and The Catalyst, which help students develop their entrepreneurial skills and ideas.

Kameron Macrorie | 1420 Crescent Rd., the former location of McLain’s Market, may soon be an entrepreneurship hub for KU Business students.

The proposed hub would unite these programs under one roof for better collaboration and access to resources.

“It’s a place for people to have access to resources to help with entrepreneurship and their entrepreneurial endeavors,” Ryan Rains, director of entrepreneurship co-curricular programs, said.

Rains said that entrepreneurship comprises a number of unique skills that are best developed through real-world application and practice, which students get as members of these programs.

“We have a lot of great students, and they have a lot of great ideas,” Rains said. “So creating space for them to try and learn and get those reps in is going to serve them regardless of what they decide to do professionally.”

Through these programs, students establish local industry connections that often evolve into full-time positions.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2023 Small Business Profile, small businesses make up 99% of Kansas business; however, they employ just under half of the state’s employees.

Rains said that these connections made by students stimulate small business growth in Kansas and help to keep students working locally.

“I know our students have greatly benefitted from entrepreneurs and mentors around the state of kansas. and we are grateful to be able to connect students to programs like finance programs through the Department of Commerce,” Rains said.

The Communications Director for the School of Business, Lauren Cunningham, said that plans for this building and the entrepreneurship hub are still being finalized. They will announce more details in the following weeks.