'We want the game to grow': Sonndr Cafe in west Toronto promoting soccer culture, community

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.

Rooted in the origin of its name, Sonder, a term defined as the realization that every individual has their own complex and full life, the cafe aims to be a place that welcomes all people through its doors.

And while their customer base is not limited to the Toronto soccer community, the attraction is certainly there. 

Whether it's their World Cup viewing parties that spill onto the paralleling sidewalk, or the Torontonians spotted around town wearing the branded jersey that's plastered onto the storefront window, representative of "futbol, coffee, friendships, and the space that we occupy," Sonndr's effect on the soccer community is present within the city. 

As pro soccer players with unconventional work schedules,