Bodega by City Cottage Market is a local marketplace vending products produced in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario, yes, but to the community, also much more.

2020 was a tough year to start a new business, but for City Cottage Market co-founders Liana and Daniel Naraine, it proved auspicious. Stocking the shelves of their Kingston Road market and cafe with local products, the business became a sort of local gathering hub — a heartbeat in an area of the city that has otherwise struggled with walkability.

When a team of concerned community members banded together to purchase the address that formerly housed the Birchcliff Cafe to block a prospective big box chain from setting up shop there, Daniel and Liana were the first people they called. 

The new owners invited the City Cottage team to create a proposal for a new business to fill the space, and the Naraines, who had long dreamt of expanding their business with a bodega-esque concept, were only too happy to oblige.

Come May 2026, Bodega by City Cottage was born, just a few blocks away from its forefather, which is now undergoing a transition of its own into a more cafe-focused concept called Local by City Cottage.

The local market element of the business has moved to Bodega. Follow the raccoons spray-painted on the sidewalk and pass through the electric aqua facade, and you'll find yourself in a veritable treasure trove of locally-made goodies.

Tinned fish, chili crisp, honey, olive oil, snacks, Toronto-centric apparel and even the odd home good, like a custom-scented candle, all line the shelves, the punchy colours of assorted packaging complemented by Daniel's own art, which adorns the walls.

The Bodega also offers a replete selection of prepared foods, formulated in collaboration with Freebird Market.

Fridges stocked with locally-brewed beers and cocktails, plus a selection of Ontario wines, round out the grocery offerings.

But Bodega by City Cottage is, by nature, more than just a place to fill your own pantry. Daniel explains that the concept was born out of an innate desire to create a space for the community to gather, so ready-to-eat foods and casual bar service also factor into the equation.

You can pick up sandwiches from both Elm Street Deli and Johnson Family Bakery to nibble on, either at one of Bodega's indoor tables or, the real showstopper, its sizeable patio.

Tucked at the end of a driveway on the patio's south border, you'll also find an outpost of Scarborough ice cream staple, Brett's, which, much like City Cottage, has a reputation for being a keystone of the community.

Much like its past locations, Brett's serves a regularly rotating menu of quirky ice cream flavours, from chocolate cherry cheesecake to crème brûlée and even some dairy-free options like avocado lime, which, much like the craft brews in the cooler at Bodega, are best enjoyed on the patio.

Since opening, the Bodega, beyond becoming the de facto hangout for members of the neighbourhood, has also become a community events hub, hosting live music, comedy, and drag brunches, with plenty more to come.

The inaugural Bodega by City Cottage is just the beginning, Daniel tells blogTO. Passionate in equal measures about supporting local businesses and fostering community, he wants to see Bodega open dozens of locations across the province. Oakville? Prince Edward County? The Glebe? The sky's the limit. It's easy to envision a Bodega slotting into nearly any area with ease.

For now, though, you can find Bodega by City Cottage at 1680 Kingston Rd.