The Nelle — a ‘third space’ for women and LGBTQ+ creatives — closing its doors Jan. 31
January 26, 2023 | Startland News Staff
Lauren Saks Merriman is proud of The Nelle HQ’s two years in the Crossroads Arts District, she said, recalling its impact as a genuine environment for empowered thought, inclusion and connection.
“We set out to offer a safe space for inspiration and community,” said Merriman, founder of The Nelle. “And that’s exactly what we’ve accomplished.”
But after six years of fulfilling that mission, a changing economic landscape led Merriman to announce the business’ closure, she said. Jan. 31 is expected to be The Nelle’s final day. All non-trade or gift-based annual memberships will be refunded for their remaining terms in the coming weeks, Merriman said.
The Nelle was built to host and serve through elevated amenities and programming — specifically for individuals who are typically underserved, like women and members of Kansas City’s LGBTQ+ community, she explained. Such amenities included a gym, boxing, arts spaces, quiet workspaces, a screening room, and a conference/events venue.
Since its earliest inception in 2017, inclusivity and the arts has been central to The Nelle’s mission. Its 65 person membership catered heavily to artists, non-profits and essential workers. It filled a need for a “third space” between work and home that enhances lives through elegant amenities and unique programming, Merriman said.
The Nelle donated workspace to local artists for the creation of large-scale visual works, she added. Its artist residence program hosted local artist Mark Allen who was able to build a portfolio during his residency that helped in securing a spot at Pratt, one of America’s top art programs. It hosted Kansas City Art Institute, Art as Mentorship, Midwest Innocence Project, the Missouri Caucus and the Kansas City Symphony.
The concept for the space came to Merriman after she moved to Kansas City from Chicago, where she had joined city clubs and wanted to bring a similar experience to Kansas City.
Click here to learn more about the story of Nelle HQ.
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
BoysGrow bootstrapping on-site culinary center for KC farm
Budding youth entrepreneurs at BoysGrow need more room to cook their farm-to-table meals, John Gordon Jr. said. “The culinary program has really taken off,” said Gordon, founder of BoysGrow, a nonprofit that teaches inner-city boys entrepreneurial skills through farming. “We were wanting to grow that aspect of BoysGrow, but our farm has a small, residential…
Flu season, ‘Good Morning America’ give Sickweather a booster shot
It’s not every day a Hall of Fame football player pitches your product. And while it wasn’t a flawless performance, Sickweather isn’t complaining about “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan’s effort to highlight the Kansas City-based company’s illness forecasting tech during a flu season segment, CEO Graham Dodge said. “We had no control over how…
Moran wants Congress to settle net neutrality in favor of ‘free and open’ internet
Congress should have the final say on net neutrality — not federal regulators who change with each presidential administration, say a growing number of U.S. senators, including Kansas’ Jerry Moran. “Consumers want an internet that is free of content-based discrimination and supports the deployment of reliable, affordable broadband access throughout the country,” said Sen. Moran,…
Made in KC Cafe opens downtown with experimental blend of coffee, retail (Photos)
A hotly anticipated hybrid coffee shop — Made in KC Cafe — poured into downtown Kansas City Friday, marking the fourth store for a home-brewed retailer. “This will be a living, breathing experiment,” said Tyler Enders, Made in KC co-founder. “Made in KC Cafe is a nice way for us to dip our toe into…