Billy’s Bodega Opens in Toronto’s Distillery District With Smoked Meat Sandwiches and Milkshakes
Billy’s Bodega is now open at 16 Trinity Street in Toronto’s Distillery District. The new shop serves smoked meat sandwiches, milkshakes and everyday grocery basics.
It comes from the team behind Spirit of York, the distillery a few doors away. Instead of another sit-down restaurant, Billy’s takes its cues from late-1980s corner stores and neighbourhood bodegas.
The idea is straightforward: stop for lunch, add a drink or a pantry item, and carry on with your day.
Billy’s Bodega: Location and Quick Details
| Address | 16 Trinity Street, Toronto, in the Distillery Historic District. |
| Signature sandwiches | Little Billy: 150 g smoked meat, $19; Big Billy: 300 g smoked meat, $29. Prices are from the online menu checked October 23, 2026. |
| Other offerings | Deli sandwiches, wraps, snacks, drinks, pantry items and milkshakes described in the launch announcement. |
| Hours and ordering | Check the shop’s current hours before visiting. Online pickup and delivery ordering are listed on its website. |
The Little Billy and Big Billy Put Smoked Meat First
Smoked meat is the centrepiece of the sandwich menu. According to the Billy’s team, the preparation begins with a seven-day brine before the meat reaches the counter.
The Little Billy comes with 150 grams of smoked meat. Its larger counterpart, the Big Billy, doubles that amount to 300 grams. Both give the menu a clear starting point for anyone visiting mainly for a deli sandwich.
Simon Ho, president of Spirit of York and one of Billy’s founders, points to the preparation and portion sizes. “We take our time with the smoked meat and we’re not shy about the portions,” he says.
French Dip, Meatball Sub and Other Sandwich Options
There are several ways to order beyond the two smoked meat signatures. Billy’s also serves a French Dip, Meatball Sub, Caprese Sandwich and Caesar Wrap.
The French Dip comes with au jus, offering a different route for anyone who wants a hot sandwich. The Caprese and Caesar Wrap broaden the menu for customers looking beyond the smoked meat options.
The online menu also lists coleslaw, cucumber salad and pasta salad as sides. Cookies and bread pudding offer another option for customers picking up more than a sandwich.
Milkshakes With a Choose-Your-Own-Candy Twist
Milkshakes are another part of the shop’s launch lineup. Billy’s describes chocolate and vanilla options, with flavours such as pistachio and mango appearing in rotation.
Customers can also choose a chocolate bar or candy from the bodega shelves to mix into a shake. Since flavours change, it is worth asking which combinations are available on the day you visit.
A Corner Store Built for More Than Lunch
Billy’s combines a sandwich counter with the practical side of a neighbourhood convenience store. The shelves stock snacks, drinks, pantry staples and household basics, along with an evolving selection of local products.
The interior takes inspiration from late-1980s corner shops, using a green-and-yellow palette and a lived-in feel. It is meant to look like a long-standing local spot, even though the business has just opened.
The team also plans to adjust its grocery selection based on feedback from neighbours. That leaves room for the shop to become useful to people who live or work nearby, not only visitors passing through the Distillery District.
The Personal Story Behind the Name Billy’s
The name honours Billy, the father of Spirit of York co-founder Maryke Ballard and best friend of fellow co-founder Rob Cudney. According to the team, he loved good food and sharing it with other people.
Smoked meat sandwiches were a particular favourite. He was known to bring bags of them on trips so everyone travelling with him could share a meal.
That story inspired both the shop’s name and its focus on smoked meat. It also gives the grocery-and-sandwich concept a more personal starting point than a typical new restaurant opening.
How to Visit Billy’s Bodega
Billy’s Bodega is at 16 Trinity Street in the Distillery Historic District. Its website has the menu and online pickup or delivery ordering, while the shop’s Instagram account carries updates.
Check current operating hours and any rotating milkshake flavours before heading over, especially if you are making a separate trip for a specific item.
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