YOUNGSTOWN — On the Federal Street sidewalk, the band is pumping out cover tunes and original singles. The only jam band of its kind in the area, The Feral Cats, is comprised of members of The Purple Cat adult day program. Above, custom neon lettering spells out the name of the band’s new home: The Purple Cat Disco Garden.
The Disco Garden opened to the public Thursday. It’s the newest site and service location for The Purple Cat, a day program for adults with developmental disabilities.
“Just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you don’t love music as much as anyone else,” said Jimmy Sutman, founder of The Purple Cat. “These are fun programs. I want to be down here with a band, not sitting in my office.”
The Purple Cat is a day habilitation center serving adults with disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and traumatic brain injury.
The Disco Garden is located in a long-vacant storefront that once housed a discount clothing store. Inside, snacks and grab-and-go items from Gallagher’s Lunch Bucket, another Purple Cat program, are available for sale. Handmade ceramics, art and wood items made by clients in the creative arts programs also are available for sale, along with jewelry and other artworks.
The new site is designed to be both a retail space and a community hub, continuing The Purple Cat’s tradition of blending creativity, inclusion and expanding opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.
A key program at the new location is The Feral Cats, a band made up of musicians who are also clients of The Purple Cat program. The musicians play guitars, keyboards and drums, along with providing vocals. They play a mix of covers and original tunes.
“We needed to expand our music program,” Sutman said. “Music has always been a big part of what we do, and our radio station, Golden String, really ushered in more of a desire for folks to get involved.”
Sutman said the retail component gives participants valuable experience. “It gives an opportunity for our folks to get involved with retail,” he said.
This storefront presented the perfect opportunity for expansion.
“Downtown has been our lifeblood. Our original office was right next to City Hall, and now we want to keep giving back in little ways. It’s important to me that we keep giving back to downtown,” Sutman said. “The Disco Garden is our homage to that.”
The Disco Garden is located at 107 W. Federal St. in Youngstown and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday pop‑up shops are planned throughout the year, and live disco shows will highlight the talents of The Feral Cats.
Visit www.BigPurpleCat.com for more information.
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