Zariko United

Hidden amongst aging bungalows and low-income rentals at Lumsden and Westlake in East York, Old’s Cool General Store is a throwback to the days when you could get everything you needed at your local corner store: milk, ice cream, smokes, the paper and a big dose of local news and gossip.

While the milk now comes in cartons as well as bottles, and the cigarettes are hidden from view behind the gluten-free and vegan treats, Old’s Cool still offers that sense of community and cozy friendliness from a bygone era.

Owners Zahra Dhanani and Mariko Nguyen-Dhanani set up shop in 2015 with a vision to be more than just another dusty convenience store. They wanted to create a community hub, a place that could foster connections between neighbours. “Human beings are social creatures, and whether we’re introverted or extroverted, we still need connections,” says Zahra.

While a lawyer by training, Zahra has spent most of her life self-employed, working as a community builder – especially in Toronto's marginalized communities. “I’ve always been my own business person,” she says. Her business partner, Mariko, is also self-employed as a city contractor, so both women are no strangers to the rigours of small business ownership. But the pair were looking for more than just a money making venture: Zahra was looking to fund her community work and create something that would contribute to the surrounding area. With an established clientele and a long history of serving the primarily residential community, the duo viewed the 100-year-old storefront as the perfect opportunity.