If there’s anything novel and remotely exciting opening up in Toronto, you can count on there being an enormous lineup to get in. With this in mind, most people may prefer to wait a few days (or weeks) to hit up a new spot until the hype dies down, but for a devoted few, being there for opening day is worth hours of waiting around in line.
In the case of the city’s latest T&T Supermarket location, it was actually a devoted 1,000 or so, according to posts on social media.
new T&T opened at Fairview Mall i guess and now there’s a line around the block just to get in
— no object permanence makes the heart grow fonder (@futuravocat) May 18, 2023
The newest outpost of the popular Asian grocery chain debuted at CF Fairview Mall at the 404 and Sheppard at 9 am on Thursday, and those eager to be among the store’s first-ever shoppers were more than happy to line up well out the mall’s doors and around its exterior for hours.
Photos and videos of the seemingly endless line are, of course, popping up on social media in all their wild glory — including in an Instagram story from the shopping centre itself — with residents appearing to be quite shocked at the turnout.
T&T Toronto Fairview Mall New Store Grand Opening On Today pic.twitter.com/ggusRozhlB
— Harvey🇨🇦🇦🇺 (@harveyhao1) May 18, 2023
To be fair, this T&T is an extra special one, as it is the first in Ontario to feature a walk-up counter with ready-to-eat Asian Street Food like beef-filled Chinese crepes.
This is in addition to the baked goods, live seafood, fresh produce, cosmetics, hot foods, Asian snacks, and an in-house line of products that the retailer is known for.
This morning I snapped this showing a portion of the lineup to get into the T&T supermarket at Fairview, which opened this morning. pic.twitter.com/66tz5ZYjNF
— Ian Collins (@iancollinsTO) May 18, 2023
The whopping 36,000-square-foot supermarket was four years in the making and occupies what was formerly Fairview’s Sears department store.
The opening was originally slated for Winter 2022, which may be one key reason fans were extra anxious to get inside.
今日グランドオープンした
Fairview MallのT&Tへ🎉🍱🪭🇨🇦が、大行列すぎて諦めて帰ってきました🤣
(明日覚悟を決めて出直すかなぁ〜〜✊🏻)🎥11:15時点の大行列タイムラプス↓↓ pic.twitter.com/BYElhHoFmO
— Satomi🇨🇦3/2トロント移住 (@Cookie_Room_) May 18, 2023
There is also the fact that this is only the second T&T in Toronto, though there are stores in Markham, Richmond Hill, and Mississauga.
The city’s only other existing location near College and Spadina likewise drew massive crowds and had a lineup snaking down the street for its grand opening in 2021, which followed the demolition of the city’s original T&T for the Port Lands revitalization project.
朝10時過ぎにFairviewにオープンしたT&Tを覗きに行ったら…モールの建物沿いに行列を発見😱‼️
うぉ~!マジか😳新しいロケーションがオープンするとこんな感じで混むの⁉️甘く見すぎたわ。ってことで退散😇😇
週明けにでも遊びに行こう💨 pic.twitter.com/Cvyfow3pHx
— あやみ🇨🇦トロント便り (@t_ayami) May 18, 2023
Along with access to unique, specialty, imported, and generally hard-to-come-by food items, customers can look forward to special promotions during opening week, which include offers from nearby businesses such as Fuwa Fuwa, Hazukido, and others.