Musical performer Drake officially opened his 1,600 square foot OVO October's Very Own flagship at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre on Saturday, August 5, and crowds lined up for hours to see the new space, causing a commotion at the centre, according to various sources. It’s the fourth location globally for Drake’s OVO retail concept, as well as its second in Toronto.

Construction signage went up at the end of May, when we first reported that OVO would be opening in Yorkdale’s Nordstrom-anchored expansion wing. Last week, Drake released a video announcing the new store, creating a phenomenal amount of hype for the opening.

The new store features ample use of marble and metal, displaying a variety of OVO products. Gold OVO-branded owls are featured throughout the space, including on the store's facade as well contained in the store’s marble flooring. Product includes OVO-branded apparel and it will also include capsule collections, collaborations, and exclusives as new products are developed. Drake, who’s actual name is Aubrey Drake Graham, is known to collaborate with various designers and brands for limited edition product roll-outs.

(Crowds line up in anticipation of the store's opening on August 5, 2017)

(OVO logo over the entrance to the new Yorkdale store)

(click for interactive yorkdale mall floor plan)

(On the floor at the entrance to the new store)

OVO’s first location opened in December of 2014 at 899 Dundas Street West in Toronto, followed by the December 2015 opening of a 2,400 square foot location at 130 N. La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. In December of 2016, OVO’s third store location opened at 54 Bond Street in New York City.

Having an OVO store at Yorkdale is a score for the centre, which is really unlike any mall in North America in terms of its first-to-market offerings. OVO gives Yorkdale a new level of credibility among the younger generation, who will also be exposed to the mall’s ample luxury brand offerings. Several very interesting retail concepts will be announced in Yorkdale in the coming weeks, all of which will be first-to-market and will include well-known fashion, technology and outerwear brands. As well, Hunter Boots has officially announced that it will open its third store in the world, and its first in North America, at Yorkdale in October.

All photos are courtesy of Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

(Video announcing the new Yorkdale store, which was released last week via social media)