GiGi’s Playhouse LI Down Syndrome Achievement Centers has been bustling since its grand opening on March 7, 2021, in Patchogue.

But because of its success, said board president and Cirigliano Insurance Agency owner Mike Cirigliano, the Austin Street facility has outgrown the nonprofit’s needs.

“We liked the space,” said Cirigliano. “It was just too small.”

By the end of the first year, he said, the need to expand was evident. “We had a lot of growth from infants to all ages, but most was from adult participants.” They offer 14 free programs to about 200 participants, who attend weekly in their 3,300-square-foot space. Besides the Down syndrome participants they accommodate, “50 percent who come here have autism or some kind of learning disability,” Cirigliano said.

Two significant grants came through to help pave the way for a new location. One from congressman Andrew Garbarino, who announced a federal $1 million grant award, was secured as a Community Project Funding request partnered with Sen. Gillibrand at their March Land’s End fundraiser to help fund a new building and the GiGi University and Hugs and Mugs programs.

(The Land’s End event was such a hit, they’ve booked two more years there.)

Suffolk County Legis. Dominick Thorne also pitched in and got GiGi’s a $1 million Suffolk County Jump SMART grant in 2023 to provide classroom space for new development/educational programs.

“Ideally, we’d love to have 10,000 square feet,” Cirigliano said during an interview at CoHo Coffee House, a GiGi’s Playhouse LI sponsor. “We’re hoping to purchase land and build a location, or have an already built space and renovate it.”

Cirigliano said they hope to stay in Patchogue, but that might change. “The Patchogue community has taken us in—CoHo Coffee House (you can donate a portion of your purchase to GiGi’s on them), Kilwins, Donatina, the Patchogue YMCA, AR Workshop, the Patchogue-Medford Library,” he said. If that isn’t feasible, hamlets nearby will do.

“We’ve looked in Sayville at the former library on Collins Avenue, but someone has put a deposit there,” he said. Then there’s the old Capital One building on Main Street that’s been vacant for years.

“The renovation costs there would be way too much,” he added. “We looked at Old Medford Farms on Route 112 and were ready to do an architectural inspection, but someone made an offer.”

Patchogue Village’s mayor Paul Pontieri has been looking locally.

“We’re looking to help out,” Pontieri said. “He has a great program that needs to be supported, and if there’s any way we can find a location for him, we will.”

Cirigliano said they signed onto a three-year lease at the Austin Street space with the option to add on another three years. The lease was up in March and after discussions, “our landlord was generous and gave us a one-year extension.”

GiGi’s University for 18-year-olds and older has already started offering banking, finance, interview skills, and how to have a proper conversation and customer service two days a week at Austin Street.

“We already have a GiGi’s U participant working at Brinkmann’s in Sayville and one at the Chick-fil-A in Port Jefferson,” Cirigliano said.

There are plans for a Hugs & Mugs Café retail. “We may be launching it at CoHo and will have it at the new location.”

On the nonprofit’s laundry list, “We’ll need at least two classes for GiGi U, four tutoring rooms, and we’re looking to have a 300-seat theater.”

An impressive number of officials and companies have gone the extra mile to help as well as those mentioned. “Sun Belt Rentals developed an internship program for GiGi Prep; St. Joseph’s University has become partners,” he said. (There’s a Field Day event at St. Joseph’s University on June 15. People can support by donating to a team on their website, https//gigi’splayhouse.org.)

“We have a deadline, first quarter 2026,” Cirigliano said. “We’ll probably do a capital fundraiser to cover renovations. We want a gym and are trying for a small theater and are hoping to be able to rent our space out.”