Adapt, endure and expand

Restaurateur Angela Murphy is taking a pandemic pivot and creating Grace Bodega, a new, standalone venture

Photo: Angela Murphy 

FINE DINING ESTABLISHMENT Grace Restaurant is taking a pinch of pandemic-inspired business pivot, a pinch of crowdfunding motivation, and cooking up a new standalone venture.

Located at the corner of Dundas and Clarence streets, the restaurant will soon open Grace Bodega directly next door at 211 Dundas Street. The new business will expand upon their existing Grace Pantry concept and offer a wide selection of farm-to-table grocery and prepared foods. Grace Bodega will also feature a specialty cafe, lunch specials, an organic/biodynamic wineshop and wine and snack bar.

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According to owner and chef ― and 2020 20 Under 40 recipient ― Angela Murphy, the new operation will help Grace diversify its revenue streams, which in turn will help ensure the restaurant is able to rebuild and manage throughout the remainder of Covid-19 restrictions and beyond.

“The Grace Bodega will be a brick-and-mortar form of Grace Pantry, including refrigerated displays for grab-and-go produce and prepared foods, meats and dairy, dry goods, larder, bottle shop and other high-quality, curated merchandise,” Murphy says.

In the early days of the Covid-19 lockdown, Murphy quickly pivoted the Grace business model and introduced the Grace Pantry, which offers customers weekly curbside pickup or delivery of high-quality local and artisanal grocery and pantry items, privately imported wine, craft beer and a rotating selection of house-made prepared meals and meal kits. Grace Pantry has served over 5,500 customers since its inception less than a year ago.

“Grace Bodega will allow us to extend our business hours and increase our offerings. We’re passionate about continuing to build our community of food, and Grace Bodega is the next chapter in that journey,” continues Murphy. “Grace Bodega will be the perfect place to experience a wide range of local product, specialty grade coffee, natural and biodynamic wine, and light, local farm-to-table fare with laidback, knowledgeable service.”

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Inspired by fellow downtown small business Reimagine Co. and the success of the crowdfunding effort to fund the opening of London’s first package-free grocery store, Grace Bodega will be partially funded by community support, with each dollar contributed being returned in the form of store credit.

Click here for more information about the campaign and how to contribute.

The Grace Bodega is scheduled to open this spring.