Visiting the The Livery Shop is a little like taking a step back in time. The space was once part of the livery stables for the attached National Hotel, which now houses The Nash restaurant. Nearly 100 years after it was built, the cheerful, painted-wood building is a clothing, accessories and household goods shop featuring work by two local design houses. The collaborative space was established by Connor and Leslie Gould of Camp Brand Goods and Dorian Kitsch and Kofi Oteng of CoutuKitsch. Both design teams utilize The Livery Shop as a store and workspace.
The crew discovered the spot while hunting for a shared studio space and had no intent of launching a boutique. When the opportunity to rent the old livery came with the proviso that it be used for sales, the designers became retailers. "We just couldn’t say no since the space was so perfect," says Connor. "The neighbourhood of Inglewood is very supportive of small businesses, so that was a major draw for us opening up here.”
The Livery Shop is now stocked to the brim with all sorts of Canadiana goods — everything from axes and thick, wool socks to Village Brewery glass-bottle candles. With a focus on items that have a folky, campy vibe, the store's product selection has a very cohesive feel. The foursome introduces additional, new brands to their customers every chance they get. They’ve even hosted pop-up shops for special occasions such as Valentine’s Day.
