Tiny's General Store is a locally-owned general store that's working itself into the fabric of the Annex community. 

Built into the rear half of a house on the corner of Euclid and Barton, the cute general store has quickly captured the heart of the community with its finely-curated selection of food, coffee, and housewares. 

The shop occupies the rear portion of a house on Barton Ave with access from Euclid.

Thanks to its family-oriented atmosphere, the store is a quiet oasis for local residents, offering a shopping experience that's separated from the traffic and hustle of the surrounding main streets of Bathurst and Bloor.

The eclectic inventory includes grocery, housewares, and cafe offerings. 

"I grew up with so many memories of my mom picking me up after school and taking me for a treat at the local store," Tiny's owner Chrys Nguyen told blogTO.

"I wanted to recreate that for all the kids in the neighbourhood, and the parents as well."

Chrys Nguyen, owner of Tiny's, prepares an espresso drink behind the main counter. 

Opening her doors in November, Nguyen said that the store has already been fulfilling the role she had hoped. 

Kids leaving the neighbouring Palmerston school clamber over the fence as soon as the clock hits 3:30 to swarm the candy bar and ice cream counter. 

Inside Tiny's, the 4o0-square-foot general store in Seaton Village.

Parents are able to take a seat on the front patio, enjoying espresso from local coffee roaster De Mello Coffee, who crafted a custom blend just for Tiny's. 

Tiny's serves a De Mello Coffee roast that was crafted exclusively for the shop.  

What makes the inventory at Tiny's special is where it all comes from. The shop's fridge and freezer are stocked with tasty delights, like frozen pasta sauces, raviolis, cookie dough, ice creams, and broths, and all of it's sourced from local businesses. 

In the freezer, customers will find a selection of gourmet food sourced from local businesses.

Toronto stalwarts like Famiglia Baldassarre and Terroni's Porta are among the suppliers, as well as smaller emerging companies like Honey's, whose plant-based ice cream has been a big hit with Tiny’s customers. 

Over on the room temperature side, shoppers will find an assortment of coffees and teas, as well as artisan pantry staples like vinegars, oils, and jams (also locally-sourced). 

Tiny's also stocks a variety of pantry items.

As for the more general inventory, Tiny's pays homage to the pottery studio that used to occupy the space by stocking a collection of ceramics, which often rank among their top-selling items. Coincidence or not, Nguyen said she likes to think of it as part of the store’s DNA. 

In the centre of the shop, a table displays locally-made ceramics, a popular product among local customers.

It's also in the general section where Nguyen diversifies her sourcing, bringing in houseware products from places like the U.S., Germany, and Sweden. 

The homewares section features an international selection of goods, curated by Nguyen. 

In the process of tracking these products down, Nguyen found herself flexing muscles she used to rely on frequently in her previous job as a buyer for menswear boutique Lost and Found.

After nine years there, she said that her experience made the transition into managing a general store pretty straightforward.

The housewares section features products like kitchen utensils, soaps, and accessories.

Named after Nguyen’s beloved cat (and maybe the compact 400-square-foot footprint of the shop), Tiny's is a reminder of the role that a local store can play in a tightly-knit community.