North York shoppers have a new grocery destination just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend. T&T Supermarket opened at RioCan Empress Walk on October 8, 2026, at 5095 Yonge Street, according to INsauga's October 9 opening report. At approximately 66,000 square feet, it is the largest T&T in Ontario at opening, not a claim to be the province's largest supermarket overall. For nearby households, the useful news is the combination of groceries, prepared meals, bakery products and beauty items in a location connected to the subway. For anyone travelling specifically to explore it, the better question is not how much the store contains, but which purchases make the journey worthwhile. Start with a list rather than treating the opening as a reason to fill a cart.
Know what is new before making the trip. Toronto.com's opening preview described fresh produce, Asian snacks, a large Japanese and Korean beauty selection, and prepared-food counters. The announced food offering included Peking duck, papa chicken, a barbecue station, sushi, Chinese crepes and Taiwanese-style sticky rice rolls. Its bakery preview listed 150 types of baked goods, including Portuguese egg tarts, mango pomelo Swiss rolls and Hong Kong-style buns. Those are reported features of the store's offering, not a guarantee that every item will be available whenever you arrive. If one particular dish or product is the reason for a long journey, check with the store first. A large selection can make it easier to finish several errands, but it does not establish that every department is cheaper than nearby alternatives.
Plan the journey around what you can comfortably carry. The TTC's North York Centre Station page identifies an Empress Walk entrance at 5095 Yonge Street, with elevator or escalator access to the shopping centre's lower level. It lists the station as accessible and provides an elevator-status section. That makes transit a practical option to consider, especially for a smaller grocery run, although passengers who depend on elevators should check current service information before leaving. Station operating hours are not supermarket operating hours, so check the store separately. For a first visit, avoid combining bulky pantry purchases with more bags than you can manage on the return journey. Reusable bags, a manageable list and a direct trip home with chilled groceries are more useful than an ambitious shopping itinerary.
Give groceries and ready-to-eat food separate spending limits. A prepared meal can be convenient, but adding lunch, bakery treats and drinks on top of a full grocery basket can obscure what the visit actually cost. Decide whether you are buying dinner ingredients, replacing a takeout meal or simply trying a snack. At self-serve counters, check whether the price is by weight, by portion or by container before serving yourself. Compare the complete meal you intend to buy, including extras, rather than just the most prominent price sign. For bakery purchases, choose quantities your household will realistically eat and follow the product's storage instructions. Trying a small selection first is a sensible way to discover favourites without paying for a large assortment that turns out not to suit your household.
Use familiar staples to judge whether the new location belongs in your regular routine. Take your usual shopping list and record the package size and shelf price of products you already buy, such as rice, noodles, tofu, vegetables or frozen dumplings. Compare like with like: a different rice variety, a larger sauce bottle or a premium brand is not automatically a better deal. Read the ingredients and allergen information on unfamiliar products instead of assuming that similar packaging means similar contents. Check promotion dates, quantity limits and any membership conditions on the actual offer. This article does not quote opening discounts because a verified, item-by-item promotion list was not established from the sources used. An opening announcement tells you where to shop; it is not evidence of savings on your own basket.
Treat the beauty department as a separate shopping decision, not an extension of the grocery list. Toronto.com's preview highlighted the location's Japanese and Korean beauty offering, which may appeal to shoppers who otherwise make another trip for those products. Before buying, compare the exact product name, volume and formulation with the item you intended to replace. Read the label and directions, and ask about the return policy, particularly before opening a product. A familiar-looking package or a larger display is not enough to establish suitability or value. If you are browsing rather than replenishing an essential, put the item on a wish list and compare it later. Keeping optional purchases separate also makes it easier to see whether your grocery spending actually improved after changing stores.
Make the first visit a test run rather than a commitment to switch your entire shop. INsauga reported an opening-day customer line, but that observation does not predict waiting times throughout the weekend. Check current store information, allow some flexibility and avoid relying on an unverified opening offer to justify a special trip. Afterward, keep the receipt and ask three practical questions: Did you find products you genuinely needed, was the total acceptable, and was the journey manageable? A store can earn a place in your routine for its selection or convenience without winning every price comparison. For North York residents, this opening adds a substantial option close to transit. The most useful discovery will be which parts of it work for your own meals, schedule and household budget.
Source trail: INsauga — The largest supermarket of its kind in Ontario just opened: https://www.insauga.com/the-largest-supermarket-of-its-kind-in-ontario-just-opened/ Toronto.com — T&T shares opening date of its largest location in Ontario: https://www.toronto.com/things-to-do/t-and-t-supermarket-largest-ontario-opening-date/article_c3e895e7-0f8e-5693-bee1-1920aeb4c013.html Toronto Transit Commission — North York Centre Station: https://www.ttc.ca/subway-stations/north-york-centre-station