T&T at Empress Walk is now open at 5095 Yonge Street. It is our best first stop in this part of North York when the job is finding Asian ingredients without another car trip. The North York Centre subway connection is the real win. The café and prepared food make it a useful stop on the way home, too.
For the lowest grocery bill, compare individual items with a discount store before buying your whole basket here. We have not verified that T&T is the cheapest shop nearby. A bigger selection and a shorter trip are useful, but neither proves a better price.
The main deal-breaker is opening-week excitement. Don't spend money you weren't going to spend just to collect a bag or a coupon sheet. Details below were checked on October 9, 2026, one day after the official opening.
The useful facts before your first visit
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Address | 5095 Yonge Street, RioCan Empress, often called Empress Walk |
| Subway | North York Centre Station, Line 1 |
| Opening day | October 8, 2026, with doors opening at 9 a.m. |
| Posted regular hours | 8 a.m.–11 p.m. |
| Store phone | 647-488-9113 |
| Size | Approximately 66,000 square feet, according to T&T |
Use the official store locator for current hours and the opening page for its dated offers. T&T's official opening post confirms that the North York store has opened.
The opening ceremony's 9 a.m. time is not the normal daily opening time. Also use 5095 Yonge, not the 5090 address repeated in some older coverage.
Why this location matters for people who don't drive
The store gives Line 1 riders a large grocery stop at North York Centre. That matters if your usual shop requires a bus connection, a long walk with frozen food or a car you don't have.
TTC's North York Centre Station page identifies the 5095 Yonge Street entrance through Empress Walk. It says you can use an elevator or escalator to reach the mall's lower level. Check elevator alerts if you need step-free access.
The advantage: add a focused stop to a trip you already make. You can buy the ingredients you need for tonight without planning a separate drive across the city.
The limit: easy subway access does not make a heavy grocery bag easier to carry. Plan the amount you can bring home, especially with rice, drinks or frozen food. A wheeled bag can make more sense than several bags cutting into your hands.
The dramatic escalator and open atrium are part of the setting. They are not a reason to stand in the flow of shoppers. Follow the mall's marked routes and ask staff about the elevator when you need it.
Use this as a convenient regular stop. Keep the first visit small enough that getting home is still easy.
What we would put on the first shopping list
Start with the ingredients that are hard to find in the stores you already use. That is a better reason to visit than buying familiar products merely because the shelves are new.
Make a short list for one meal. For example, choose the exact noodles, sauce, vegetables and protein your recipe needs. Check packet sizes and the amount you will use before adding another flavour or bulk pack.
Compare the actual label. Two soy sauces, noodle packs or dumpling bags can differ in ingredients, weight and use. A lower shelf price is not a saving if the package is much smaller or the product is wrong for the dish.
Don't treat all Asian grocery stores as interchangeable. A shop with a Korean focus and one with a broad Chinese grocery range can solve different shopping needs. Neither country's food represents all of Asia.
For vegetables, inspect the specific bunch or package. Look at the condition and decide when you will cook it. Cheap produce that spoils before you use it is not good value.
For meat, seafood and frozen food, plan the trip home before paying. Use an insulated bag when needed and avoid adding a long café visit after buying items that need refrigeration.
Buy the ingredients this shop makes easier to find. Compare ordinary staples elsewhere when the price matters more than convenience.
The T&T Café: a reason to pause, with a separate budget
T&T's official café announcement describes Ontario's first T&T Café at the North York store. It lists pastries, pressed sandwiches, ube latte and black sesame latte, with a seating area.
Ube is a purple yam used in many sweets and drinks. Black sesame has a toasted, nutty flavour. If you don't know which drink you will like, ask what is in it and how sweet it is before ordering.
The good: this adds a place to sit during a shopping trip. It is more useful than expecting every supermarket hot-food purchase to be eaten while standing outside.
The catch: a café stop is an extra purchase, and seating is not a promise that a table will be free. We have not confirmed a full current café price list, its own closing time or laptop policies. Don't plan a long work session from the supermarket's overall hours.
An invited store preview shows pastries and drinks, but we have not tasted them. We will not turn a colourful photograph into a verdict that the latte is the best in North York.
Try one drink or snack if it interests you. Keep it outside the grocery budget so a quick shop doesn't quietly become a much more expensive outing.
Prepared food: judge the total for the meal you want
The store's opening material and current preview coverage show hot food, barbecue, sushi and bakery choices. That makes it a practical lead for a commuter who wants dinner without cooking.
The advantage: several types of food are in one stop. You can decide what suits your evening without going to another restaurant after shopping.
The drawback: “supermarket food” does not automatically mean a cheap meal. Check whether the item is sold by weight, by piece or as a fixed-price meal. A container with a little of everything can cost more than you expect.
Before filling a box, find the posted unit price and how the weight is calculated. Compare the whole meal, including a drink or dessert, with another takeaway you actually use.
Ask about ingredients and allergies. A dish's name or appearance cannot settle whether it contains seafood, sesame, nuts or another ingredient you need to avoid.
Chinese crêpes, sticky rice rolls and specific bakery items are further leads to check at the counter. We have not confirmed the daily availability or current price of every item mentioned before the opening.
Use the prepared food when the portion and total price work for you. Don't fill a large box before learning what it will cost.
Is T&T cheaper than nearby grocery stores?
We have not established an overall price winner. There is no checked, identical in-store basket in this guide that proves T&T is cheaper than H Mart, Food Basics, No Frills or an independent grocer.
That is a useful limit. A comment about cheaper milk at one branch, or more expensive noodles at another, is not a current price for your North York shop.
To compare properly, use the same brand, pack size and date. For produce, compare the same unit and condition. Our Toronto grocery unit-price guide explains pounds, kilograms and prices per 100 grams.
Two nearby comparison points are H Mart North York at 5323 Yonge Street and Nick's No Frills at 4771 Yonge Street, near Sheppard. The September 2026 official No Frills announcement confirms that store and lists daily hours of 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Food Basics, Galleria, Bestco, Foody Mart, small produce shops and grocery delivery are other leads when you want a different range or buying experience. We have not completed a current matching-price and location check for each suggestion. As of October 9, confidence is low for any blanket claim that one is cheaper for your whole list.
Our choice: use T&T for ingredients and convenience, then compare your most expensive repeat purchases. Don't turn one good sale into a rule that every shelf is a bargain.
The opening offers have ended. Check the coupon dates
The October 8–11 purchase and giveaway period will be over when this guide is published. The table records the opening offers, not a deal you can still claim. Coupons already received have a separate October 12–25 redemption window.
The official opening page advertised these in-store offers when checked on October 9:
| Offer | Posted condition or date |
|---|---|
| First 500 shoppers, October 8 | $10 T&T gift card |
| First 500 shoppers, October 9 | Bao foldable shopping bag |
| First 500 shoppers, October 10 | Toronto city magnet |
| First 500 shoppers, October 11 | Envy apple gift pack |
| Standard T&T shopping bag | $68 or more before tax, North York store only, October 8–11 on the official page |
| Opening coupon sheet | $88 or more before tax during October 8–11; coupons valid October 12–25 at North York only |
The first-500 giveaway says one per customer, while supplies last. That limited Bao bag is different from the standard bag connected to a spending threshold.
Some preview coverage gives a longer end date for the $68 bag offer. The official page we checked says October 8–11. Ask the store about any extension; don't assume it from another article.
The coupon sheet is promoted with a combined saving of $30 or more. That is not $30 off the purchase that earns it. You need to read each coupon's product, quantity and redemption rules before deciding what it is worth to you.
These are in-store offers. We have not redeemed them or tested an in-store transaction. Online cart prices and promotions can differ. Keep the pre-tax threshold, eligible purchases, stock limits and expiry in mind, and ask staff about exclusions.
Skip buying extra groceries to reach a giveaway threshold unless you needed them anyway. A “free” bag can be an expensive reason to overspend.
Crowds, parking and the details still worth checking
Opening-day photographs show queues. They do not prove the store will be equally busy every afternoon. We would save a relaxed browsing visit for after the opening weekend if you don't care about the limited gifts.
If you need food now, keep the trip focused. Choose a list, check what is available and leave enough time for checkout. A promotion can be poor value when it adds a long wait to an ordinary grocery trip.
If you drive, current preview coverage points to the Empress Avenue parking entrance and reports 90 minutes of parking validation with a $20 shop. We have not confirmed those terms with the mall or store. As of October 9, confidence is low for treating that as a guaranteed free-parking deal. Check the signs, keep the ticket and ask staff before relying on it.
The official account announced a temporary Gundam hobby pop-up through October 12. That opening event has ended. It was not a permanent grocery-store department.
For future holidays, check the current store notice rather than reusing opening-week hours. Our Thanksgiving closures guide records that holiday weekend.
Go for a specific need now. Wait until the opening rush settles if the plan is a leisurely first look.
Is T&T an independent alternative to Loblaws?
No. Loblaw's company history records its acquisition of T&T in 2009. A new banner and different food selection do not make this an independent grocery company.
That matters if avoiding Loblaw is part of your shopping decision. No Frills is also a Loblaw banner. Changing between the two is not an ownership alternative.
The range can still make a real difference to someone who needs particular ingredients. Ownership and usefulness are two separate questions. Decide how much each matters to you, then choose a shopping route that fits.
We have not verified claims that a local supermarket conversion happened because of a union drive. Do not use that explanation as fact. Complaints about another city's T&T, old produce quality or a past branch's smell also do not establish the quality of this new store.
Choose another retailer if the ownership is your deal-breaker. Choose this T&T when its range and subway access solve a problem you actually have.
Maps for the other places mentioned
The maps below cover extra branches and supporting names mentioned in this guide. Maps labelled "Search results" do not confirm a business is open or identify a verified branch. Match the name, address and current official details before travelling. Open only the maps you need.
Map: H Mart North York
Map: Nick's No Frills
Map: North York Centre Station
Search results: Food Basics North York
Search results: Galleria North York
Search results: Bestco
Search results: Foody Mart
Frequently asked questions
Is the T&T at Empress Walk open?
Yes. T&T's official account confirms the North York store has opened, following its announced October 8, 2026 opening. It is at 5095 Yonge Street, in RioCan Empress.
What are the T&T North York store hours?
The current official store locator lists regular hours of 8 a.m.–11 p.m. The October 8 grand opening started at 9 a.m., which is a different time. Check the locator before a holiday or late visit.
Which subway station serves Empress Walk?
Use North York Centre Station on Line 1. TTC lists an entrance through Empress Walk at 5095 Yonge Street, with elevator or escalator access to the lower level. Check elevator alerts if step-free access matters.
Does the new T&T have a café?
Yes. T&T's official announcement describes Ontario's first T&T Café at the North York store, with seating, pastries, pressed sandwiches, ube latte and black sesame latte. Check the café's own menu and service hours when you arrive.
Is the new T&T cheaper than H Mart or No Frills?
We have not verified an overall winner using an identical current in-store basket. Compare the same brand, package size and unit price. T&T's subway convenience and range are useful even when another store wins on a particular item.
Do I need to spend $68 to get the Bao giveaway bag?
The October 8–11 opening period has ended. During that period, the October 9 Bao foldable bag was a first-500-shoppers giveaway, while the standard shopping bag had a $68 pre-tax spending condition. Neither is a current giveaway promise.
Does spending $88 give me $30 off straight away?
No. The advertised $88 pre-tax purchase earned a coupon sheet during October 8–11. That purchase offer has ended. Coupons already received are for use October 12–25 at the North York store, and each coupon's rules matter.
Is T&T owned by Loblaw?
Yes. Loblaw's official history records its 2009 acquisition of T&T. If avoiding Loblaw ownership is your priority, switching from Loblaws to T&T does not meet it.