A neighbourly cafe in west Toronto has emerged as a hub for its growing community. However, the owners — united by a love of soccer — of Sonndr Cafe are doing more than just providing a caffeine fix; they're fostering a culture of belonging through a passion for the sport.
Perhaps that's the effect of a business founded by three born-and-bred Torontonians, two of whom are former Toronto FC (TFC) players. "For the first year, no one knew who ran and owned Sonndr, and we loved that," Ashtone Morgan, former TFC fullback and current co-owner of Sonndr, told CBC Sports. "We wanted people to come here for who we are, aside from football.
We really pride ourselves on that." But when the cafe opened its doors, it quickly became a place frequented by TFC players, neighborhood regulars, and naturally, people with a passion for soccer.
Morgan owns Sonndr along with former teammate Liam Fraser — a current midfielder for FC Dallas — and with childhood friend Rakgwedi Manet Ramphore, who has a background in hospitality.