By Jon Scarr
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, my son and I attended the grand opening of EB Games Canada's Nintendo store-within-a-store at 267 Yonge Street in Toronto. After waiting roughly two and a half hours, we finally stepped inside. I got chills. Seeing Mario emerging from that giant green pipe was awesome, and the excitement from everyone around us made the moment even better.
I've visited Nintendo New York several times over the years, and I've always wanted Canadian fans to have something special like that here. Toronto gave me some of that excitement. The store was incredibly crowded, and I was hoping for more exclusive merchandise, but my son and I loved our visit. We stayed for about an hour, and I'd happily do it again.
Nintendo Fans Turned Out for Opening Day
We arrived in downtown Toronto around 8 AM, two hours before the scheduled opening. The lineup had already stretched around the corner, so I dropped my son off to get in line while I parked. By the time I joined him, even more people had arrived.
People were chatting and laughing, and several fans were in costume. Everyone around me seemed excited.
I walked to the front of the line, recorded the crowd from beginning to end, and posted the video on social media.
Soon afterward, a fan dressed as Mario replied that he'd spotted himself in it. He'd followed my 4ScarrsGaming coverage for years, although we hadn't talked much. He'd also learned about the opening through my articles and posts.
Of course, I went back to find him for a photo together. It was one of the nicest moments of the morning.
About 10 minutes before the scheduled opening, the line started moving forward a few times. I figured people were beginning to enter, although I couldn't see exactly what was happening at the front.
Unfortunately, my son and I didn't get to watch the ribbon-cutting. I'd seen it advertised for 10 AM, but nothing I'd seen beforehand mentioned a limit on attendance. Someone in line said around 50 people would be allowed in for the ceremony, although I couldn't confirm the number. I was disappointed to miss it, especially after arriving two hours early. EB Games Canada later shared footage of the ceremony on Instagram.
We finally got inside around 10:30 AM. I completely understand why some people wouldn't want to wait that long. For us, being part of the crowd made the morning memorable before we even entered.
Stepping Inside Toronto's Nintendo Space
The front half of the EB Games Canada store is still dedicated to its regular games and merchandise, while the back half has been transformed into Nintendo's store-within-a-store. I wasn't expecting the Nintendo area to be quite so big. With its bright red branding and character displays, it was much more than another aisle of Nintendo merchandise.
And then there was Mario. I'd seen the official photos of the statue coming out of a green pipe, but it was even better standing there in person.
I loved seeing the huge The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time wall display. Link filled the backdrop alongside the series' 40th-anniversary logo. With the game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, it was awesome to see Nintendo give Zelda that much attention.
Near the front of the store, a separate display featured the upcoming game and the Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition system, which launches October 29. The game's special packaging with textured foil cover art looked even better in person than in the videos I'd watched. EB Games Canada is also offering a free Nintendo 64-style holographic slipcover with pre-orders, and this was the first time it had been displayed publicly.
The Nintendo Switch 2 handheld demo stations featured Pokémon Pokopia, Star Fox, Splatoon Raiders, and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. I would've liked to try the games, but it was so crowded that I decided to leave the demos for another visit.
Even moving through the space took some effort, I enjoyed looking around. Families, kids, and longtime Nintendo fans were having fun. The displays and that shared excitement made this a genuine Nintendo destination to me.
Great Merchandise, but I Was Hoping for More
There were lots of plush toys, games, and collectibles to browse. My son enjoyed looking around as much as I did. But we'd both hoped to find more merchandise that isn't already available at other EB Games Canada locations.
I especially wanted merchandise celebrating this particular location. There weren't any Nintendo Toronto shirts, hoodies, or other location-specific clothing available for the opening, which was disappointing. I've visited Nintendo New York several times, and I would've loved to bring home something unique to Toronto. My son was hoping to find some of the exclusive plushies sold at Nintendo's other stores, so he was disappointed they weren't available in Toronto.
I also would've liked to see conventional amiibo figures, but I didn't notice any during our visit. I did spend some time checking out the My Mario Wood Block Sets, though. The Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi Wood Block Sets each contain three pieces and were priced at $39.99 CAD apiece. The larger Mario & Friends Wood Block Set had 30 pieces and was priced at $189.99 CAD.
I really wanted those blocks. The Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi character blocks also work as amiibo in compatible Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games. That made them even more tempting. Those prices were more than I could justify right now. Maybe I'll put them on my Christmas list and see what Santa thinks.
Thankfully, I did find something I'd been searching for. I was happy to see JAKKS Pacific's Chomping Wonder Bowser Jr. figure from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. I'd been looking for it at other EB Games Canada stores without any luck, so I wasn't leaving without it!
A Great Start With Room to Grow
Seeing those fans outside and inside made me want more Nintendo destinations across Canada.
Some retailers have reduced their XBOX sections, and PlayStation plans to stop producing discs for new games in January 2028. That's why I love seeing EB Games Canada and Nintendo of Canada invest in a physical space for fans.
To be clear, this isn't as elaborate as the standalone Nintendo stores in New York or San Francisco. Someone expecting the same size or range of exclusive merchandise might leave wanting more. But I wasn't comparing floor plans when I walked through the doors. I was too busy enjoying the fact that we finally had something like this in Toronto.
More than anything, I want Nintendo to give fans new reasons to return regularly. Toronto-exclusive clothing and collectibles would be a great addition. I'd also love rotating character displays, celebrations for new games, and Nintendo Direct viewing parties on those large screens. These are things I'd like to see, not events Nintendo has announced.
I'd happily go back when the store isn't so crowded. There are demo stations I still want to try, and I'd like to explore the shelves without an opening-day crowd around me. I also hope this Toronto location is just the beginning, with similar Nintendo experiences eventually coming to other Canadian cities. And yes, I'd still love a full Nintendo Store in Toronto someday.
My son and I waited about two and a half hours and missed the ribbon-cutting. Navigating the store wasn't easy, either. None of that changed how glad I was that we went. I shared the opening with my son, met a longtime follower dressed as Mario, and finally saw a dedicated Nintendo space here in Canada.
It's a great start. I hope Nintendo takes it even further.
Jon Scarr
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Just looking through your pictures made me emotional; being there must have been quite the experience! While I agree that the location isn’t perfect, it still gives Toronto a one-up over Montreal, though this sadly does not extend to the Maple Leafs ;)
ReplyDeleteThis is a really cool recap of the opening; happy you got to attend as this type of event and store is right up your alley! Appreciate the photos too. Sounds like it was a really great day, despite the size of the crowds. And how special to share that with your son.
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