BEAVER FALLS, PA – Stray Cat Studio, the new owner of the former PNC branch at 2200 9th Ave in Beaver Falls, and home to the “Baby Bello”, phase one of the county’s newest Portobello Cultural Life & Arts Center. We welcome the public to a Grand Opening celebration for both on Saturday, September 9 from 4-7 PM, rain or shine.
With a ribbon cutting, local business basket raffles, music, pottery demonstrations, a clay project (open to the public), and food trucks (offered partly in sponsorship with Brighton Music Center, Jumet Financial, and Chelsea Party Center), the celebration will also include a birthday cake cutting and tours of the newly renovated building. RSVPs, though not required, are highly recommended as they include an entry into a prize drawing offered by co-sponsor, Stray Cat Studio.
Celebrating 10 years in business, Stray Cat Studio’s new location will allow it to house a much larger and more exclusive pottery production department than the former location, and an expanded space for members and classes, including 12 pottery wheels, a separate kiln room, event spaces, and 2nd-floor offices for the staff. The Baby Bello, a scaled-down first phase of the future Portobello Cultural Life & Arts Center, waylaid by the COVID-19 pandemic, will offer a flexible-use space for community-driven programming as well as Bello-hosted events including, but not limited to lectures, yoga, social gatherings, business meetings, book clubs, script/author readings, music, spoken word, performing arts classes, & pop-up gallery showings.
After years of pivoting to get this project up and running for the community, Renee Suhr, Owner of Stray Cat Studio reflects, “This will be an amazing place to hang out or meet up with friends. One person might be coming in for a fundraiser and bump into a friend who is there for a yoga or a pottery class, for instance. Our building will be a place where all kinds of people can meet on common ground and shared interests.”
Stray Cat will continue to provide all the same classes and pottery production they have been, only on a slightly larger scale and now alongside the vitality of the Baby Bello activities and presence in the building.
“The Baby Bello will answer the lack of community gathering spaces we heard a need for prior to the pandemic,” stated Joline Atkins, Director of Artistic Programs for the Baby Bello, adding, “Now, as many are craving in-person gatherings, even on smaller scales, we have the answer for artistic, educational, and civic gatherings – and in a setting surrounded by artists, which comes with an added dollop of inspiration!”
Community members will be glad to know the PNC ATM will remain operable at the site. Because the Baby Bello and Stray Cat strive to be good neighbors, community members can expect a cleaner, more well-lit experience. Patrons should also expect some changes to the parking lot for safety and ATM convenience.
“To be a part of a growing small business that has such a dynamic, positive impact on the community is thrilling,” shared Stray Cat Studio’s new Operations Manager, Helen Kissick. The former President & Executive Director for the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce continued, “We’re eagerly looking forward to this new space that will serve our community and staff for years to come!”