FOREWORD

BEHIND THE GATSBY

PREFACE

Built in 1880, this storied space once echoed with cheers from Shelbyville High’s home basketball games.

By 1917, it had become a roller skating rink, then later housed the Lee McClain Clothing Factory until the early 1980s. After a brief run of small businesses, the building sat empty and waiting.
In 2012, a vision began to take shape: not just a venue, but a place with soul. Over four years, The Gatsby on Main was born.

With its original gym floor and pressed tin ceiling still intact, the space now radiates the elegance of a bygone era…

“You go in and feel what the building is telling you. The vibe of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, fit the space."

BEN HARDIN,
Owner & Founder

THE GATSBY ON MAIN

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© 2026 The Gatsby on Main. All rights reserved.

Location

524 Main Street
Shelbyville, KY 40065

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