Founded as part of independent creative collective Pulp&Fiber, Community Agency has operated out of its studio at 822-838 Richmond Street West for 23 years. Led by Founder and CEO Art Mandalas, the agency has expanded from a boutique branding studio into an 80-person multichannel firm. Today, its work spans brand strategy, experiential marketing, public relations, performance marketing, and real estate marketing across North America.

Despite scaling up to serve international brands like Four Seasons, Heineken, and Perrier, Mandalas has kept the agency’s headquarters anchored to the exact same square footage on Richmond Street West since 2003.

"The character that initially attracted people to this place is alive and thriving."

- Art Mandalas, Founder & CEO, Community Agency

When Community Agency first established its studio, Trinity Bellwoods was largely defined by light industrial uses, auto body repair shops, and commercial storage. Over two decades, Mandalas watched the surrounding streets convert into a residential and retail district. Auto body shops gave way to independent coffee stands, and industrial warehouses were redeveloped into multi-family residential buildings.

Throughout this period of urban density, the agency’s internal discipline expanded to match the changing environment. The team integrated digital product development, PR, and physical experience design under one roof, maintaining an agile, cross-disciplinary workflow.

This cross-disciplinary structure relies heavily on the physical setup of the studio itself. Situated adjacent to Trinity Bellwoods Park, the office at 822-838 Richmond Street West provides direct street-level exposure and access to natural light.

The proximity to the park and surrounding retail grid shapes the team's daily routines. Client consultations take place down the street at the original Terroni location on Queen Street West, while daily meals come from Agora across the street. The steady foot traffic along Richmond West keeps the studio plugged into the neighborhood's daily rhythms.

For creative firms operating in growing urban markets, long-term commercial tenancy requires an active connection to local commercial health. Mandalas notes that the density of owner-operated storefronts along Queen and Ossington forms the baseline of the district. Building ongoing relationships with adjacent operators creates a resilient local ecosystem where commercial tenants support one another.

"Spend time and get to know the people that run the shops and businesses, most of which are owner operated. They’re an integral part of the neighborhood."

- Art Mandalas, Founder & CEO, Community Agency

As Community Agency continues to scale its digital and experiential practice across North America, its studio on Richmond Street West remains its heart. By keeping an 80-person creative agency rooted in the same neighborhood for over two decades, Mandalas demonstrates that long-term business stability in Toronto relies on staying connected to the immediate surroundings.