From a dog park: Tiny Market Co.

When Erich Mrak lost his job as a chef during the pandemic, he did what many of us did - he went home and started cooking. What began as homemade pasta for friends and family turned into meal kits, a small wholesale business, and eventually, a tiny 620-square-foot pasta shop that would change everything.The name Tiny Market Co. was born in a dog park, when Erich and Danielle Soule - who was working at the café connected to his rented kitchen - started talking about the kind of business they both dreamed of running. Within weeks, she’d joined him. Within a year, they were running a pasta shop together - and dating.Their story is one of community, care, and connection. From greeting customers on the street to remembering names in a notes app, every part of Tiny Market Co. is built around gratitude. What started as a necessity during the pandemic has grown into a tiny-but-mighty fixture in Toronto’s pasta scene - known for its handmade dishes and pasta classes that sell out week after week.This conversation with Erich and Danielle is about small beginnings, shared passion, and the butterfly effect that can turn a rented kitchen and an idea in a dog park into something extraordinary.Follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTokFollow Sam Jen on Instagram