The hot-as-fire Italian market chain Eataly has arrived in Toronto, and shoppers are freaking stoked.

Don't believe me? Peep the lineup outside Yorkville's Manulife Centre right now.

With hours to go before the food emporium even opens,  hundreds formed a queue that now sprawls down Bloor Street and around the corner.

Either these folks have visited some of Eataly's other 40 locations around the world (and loved it), or they're merely eager to participate in one of the city's favourite pastimes: Lining up to spend money.

The highly-anticipated store famously opens tonight at 5 p.m., ending a very long wait for the people of Toronto and a very cold (but shorter) wait for the people of Toronto who showed up on opening day.

It's worth noting that the first 100 customers through the door of Eataly Toronto get free tote bags, chocolates and pandoro, among other delights.

This may have something to do with the massive draw.