By Jon Scarr
Canada doesn't have a Nintendo-operated retail store like Nintendo New York or Nintendo San Francisco. That's why I was excited when EB Games Canada announced a permanent Nintendo space in downtown Toronto opening October 17. The 1,500-square-foot area will have Nintendo Switch 2 demos, Nintendo displays, merchandise, and photo opportunities. EB Games Canada says some My Mario merchandise will also be exclusive in Canada through the new space.
It isn't a standalone Nintendo Store, but it's the closest thing we've had.
What interests me even more is what happens after opening day. I'd love to see this become somewhere Nintendo fans want to visit again, whether there's a new game to try, an event to attend, or merchandise that isn't available at every retailer.
And if EB Games Canada and Nintendo can make that happen in Toronto, I don't want the idea to stop at Yonge Street. I want it to be the beginning of something bigger for Nintendo fans across Canada.
Canada Has Been Missing a Nintendo Destination
Nintendo games are easy enough to find at Canadian retailers. Some Nintendo merchandise is another story, especially exclusive toys and collectibles. We've also had demos, special retail events, and temporary Nintendo activations.
What we haven't had is a large, permanent retail space dedicated to Nintendo. That is what separates the 1,500-square-foot Toronto location from a typical game aisle.
There will be dedicated displays and places to try Nintendo Switch 2 games. Some My Mario items will be exclusive to this location in Canada. I'm especially interested in whether that selection grows into merchandise Canadian fans normally have to look outside the country to find.
I'd like to visit without having a particular game in mind. Maybe I want to try an upcoming release. Maybe I want to see what's new on the shelves. For Nintendo fans, those are perfectly good reasons to go somewhere, even if we leave without buying anything.
The Toronto Space Has to Be More Than a Nintendo Section
The opening-day features give EB Games Canada and Nintendo a starting point. The challenge comes afterward, when the excitement wears off. Will people want to return for a second or third visit?
I'd like the playable demos to change as major Nintendo games arrive. A Super Mario anniversary could bring its own display or event. The My Mario selection could grow, with different exclusive items appearing over time.
Nintendo Direct presentations also come to mind. I wouldn't expect every Direct to turn into a viewing party, but imagine fans gathering at the Toronto location for a major announcement. I'd make a trip downtown for something like that.
None of those activities has been announced for Toronto. They're examples of what I'd like Nintendo and EB Games Canada to do with a space that's going to be there year-round.
If someone visits in October and comes back in February, there should be a chance to discover something different. Otherwise, even a beautifully decorated Nintendo area could end up being a place fans visit once and forget about.
Nintendo Already Has a Blueprint for Destination Retail
I've visited Nintendo New York several times over the past 10 years, and every visit has been magical for me. There's something special about going somewhere dedicated entirely to Nintendo. It's different from walking into a regular retailer because you need a game or controller.
That's what I want for the new Nintendo space in Toronto. I want Canadian Nintendo fans to walk through those doors and experience some of that same excitement.
Nintendo New York and Nintendo San Francisco already offer a look at what can happen beyond the merchandise shelves. In September, both stores hosted events for The Legend of Zelda anniversary, complete with guided game demos and photo opportunities. Both are also scheduled to host Nintendo Switch Sports Resort launch events on October 24, with hands-on play.
I know Toronto won't be identical to either of those stores. It's a section inside EB Games Canada's flagship, not a standalone Nintendo location. But there's no reason the smaller format can't have a personality of its own.
I don't expect a replica of Nintendo New York. I'd be happy to see even some of that magic find a permanent home here in Canada.
EB Games Canada Has Been Moving in This Direction Too
The partnership also fits the direction EB Games Canada has been taking since its ownership change.
Stéphan Tétrault acquired GameStop Canada in 2025 and brought back the EB Games Canada name. Later that year, the retailer opened a concept store in Montreal with an area called EBX for brand activities and hands-on demos. Nintendo and Pokémon were among the partners identified for that space.
In Montreal, EBX provides an area for demonstrations and brand events inside a game retailer. A dedicated Nintendo space in Toronto takes that idea in a more specific direction.
Toronto is an opportunity to take that thinking further with one of gaming's most recognizable brands. You can buy a Nintendo game online in minutes. But you can't try a new release alongside other fans or get caught up in a launch celebration through an online checkout.
I want to see what EB Games Canada does with that opportunity beyond the first few weeks.
Toronto Makes Sense as a Starting Point
I've seen some frustration online about Toronto getting the first Nintendo space, and I understand it. If you're a fan in Montreal, Vancouver, or anywhere else in Canada, a trip to downtown Toronto isn't convenient. Some people have also questioned why Montreal wasn't first, especially with EB Games Canada's concept store already there.
But I can also understand the business decision. Toronto is Canada's largest city, and EB Games Canada already operates its flagship store at 267 Yonge Street. That part of downtown draws shoppers and visitors, with the Eaton Centre and other attractions nearby. It's a sensible location to introduce something that people may travel to see.
The store-within-a-store format makes sense to me as well. Nintendo gets a dedicated presence inside an established retail location without opening an entirely separate Nintendo-operated store. To me, that's a smart, more cautious way to introduce the concept. We don't know what either company is investing, so there's no way to judge the actual savings or financial risk.
And there's a benefit for EB Games Canada too. A permanent Nintendo destination could attract fans who weren't planning to visit the retailer otherwise. There's no guarantee it will succeed, but I can understand the appeal for both companies.
So yes, Toronto is a logical place to begin. I just don't think it should be the only place Canadians ever get to experience something like this.
Toronto Should Be the Beginning, Not the End
Once the space opens, I'm interested in what it looks like a few months down the road. Will there be something new to try? Will Canadian fans see merchandise they haven't been able to buy locally? Will Nintendo and EB Games Canada find ways to bring fans together outside of big shopping days?
Those are the things that could make the Toronto location special long after October 17.
I'd also love to see the concept reach Montreal. EB Games Canada's existing Montreal concept store is one possibility. Vancouver is another city I'd like the companies to consider. Nothing has been announced for either city, and I'm not suggesting expansion is already planned.
But Canada is far bigger than Toronto. A Nintendo fan shouldn't have to live in southern Ontario to hope for this kind of destination someday. If the Toronto space succeeds, I hope EB Games Canada and Nintendo look seriously at what could come next.
I'll be watching what happens after the opening celebrations. My visits to Nintendo New York have given me a pretty clear idea of what a Nintendo destination can mean to a fan. If the Toronto location captures even part of that excitement and inspires something similar elsewhere in Canada, it'll be a wonderful start.
Jon Scarr
Enjoying our coverage? Add 4ScarrsGaming as a Preferred Source on Google.
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated. Please stay respectful and on topic.