The story of Cabcity is all about natural evolution. As owner Devakaran (Devo) Manickaraj explains, "Our story began out of a backpack in 2011. It began by making embroidered Cabcity snapbacks and limited edition printed shirts, sweaters, and hoodies. They were not intended to be sold, but gifted to people who contributed to the street culture. DJs, bartenders, servers, skaters, and artists wear our brand while doing what they love in the city that is our home: Cabcity, aka Calgary, AB. Besides creating Cabcity apparel, we also produce wholesale items for many companies."

Now the brand has evolved again, thanks to Cabcity Café.

"Local businesses quickly requested our services," Devo explains about why Cabcity launched a café. In addition to the demand, it fits the Cabcity brand and vision.

"Coffee is the original social media, dating back to the Vienna coffee houses. It's similar to music, in that it transcends borders and language barriers," says Devo. "Cabcity Cafe is a warm and welcoming space and the community hub of the Crystal Palace, which is our shared home with The Way Holistic Collective and Yoga Sarana."

He continues, "We prepare and serve wholesome food, organic ethically sourced coffee, and nourishing TCM elixirs formulated by Dr. Rose Galikas, the owner of The Way Holistic Collective. We showcase art by local artists and host pop-ups by local artisans. In the cafe, you'll find our exclusive Cabcity apparel and we look forward to showcasing collaborations with local artists for limited edition products."

Cabcity Cafe is passionate about working with vendors that promote ethical and sustainable products. Devo notes, "We are proud to serve Kingdom Coffee. This local company not only roasts exceptional coffee, but they are committed to giving back to the community. All their coffee beans follow a direct trade sourcing model by visiting farmers in Nicaragua and Honduras, and they purchase the beans directly from the growers. They visit the farms and see the production first hand, which provides transparency on the growing and working conditions of each farm.

"We care deeply about the environment. We are committed to using sustainable, locally sourced products when available. Our to-go products are compostable and recyclable, and our hats are made from 80 per cent recycled materials.

"The Crystal Palace is an extremely efficient new building, with the newest features helping to reduce our carbon footprint."

Devo says the community is the best feature of Cabcity Cafe.

"Our cafe is the incubator and hub of the Crystal Palace, blending the vibrancy of our Cabcity community and neighbourhood into one space. We feed bodies, souls, and minds through a synchronized trifecta: The Way Holistic Collective, Yoga Sarana, and Cabcity Cafe. We will keep pace with the changing economic and political climate of Alberta by building a community within our neighbourhood and using our community to support our business, as well as other businesses in the city. Direct commerce is key. All of this is our definition of #supportlocal. There are so many subcultures and happenings in this city that people have yet to realize, such as the vibrant talent that is here in music, business, and art."

For Devo and his team, supporting local also means giving back.

"We offer a space that is geared toward self-care. It is an inclusive environment with no prejudice."

Cabcity looks forward to providing patrons with the best patio experience on Edmonton Trail, in addition to food, beverages, apparel, and a thriving community. Learn more by visiting cabcity.ca.