Purpl puts period on chapter at 52 Main

By Tom Gambardella

 After 14 years at 52 Main Street, Purpl, the creative space founded by former Hastings resident Sarah Silbert Hinawi, closed its doors for good on Dec. 6. 

Opened in 2011, closed for the Covid-19 pandemic, and reopened in 2023, Purpl operated with the backing of the Saul N. Silbert Charitable Trust, incorporated in 1994. Silbert, Hinawi’s grandfather, was described on Purpl’s website as “a lover of the arts who studied theater, piano, and drawing through his last days; Saul believed strongly in the value of education and self-reliance.” Purpl served as a space for Rivertowns residents to actualize Silbert’s values, as part of an ideology known as “regenerative culture,” which Hinawi said centers on self-awareness, self-reliance, and community. 

Purpl promoted regenerative culture in multiple ways, including open mic nights, a consignment shop, and small business networking opportunities that Hinawi called “GELL” groups. GELL, an acronym for Gig Economy Learning and Leadership, created curated groups of six to eight women and led biweekly meetings for six months at a time, although Hinawi said one group continued meeting for five years after their GELL program concluded.