Tim Hortons to expand restaurants in St. Louis

[cmason1957]

Well isn't that just about the best news I have heard in a long time. I always stop at a Tim Hortons when I am up North, but now they are talking about bringing them to nearby. I'll probably have to put a few pounds on.

 

[Runningwolf]

Well once one opens, a whole slew of them do. They have been opening around here with an ice cream shop sharing the space. They are good.

 

[Brew and Wine Supply]

any ideas of locations?

 

[cmason1957]

They haven't announced locations yet. Just that there will be something like 40 of them in the area.

 

[sour_grapes]

Shouldn't this have been posted in the "Congratulations, Canada" thread?

 

[plowboy]

And the silent Canadian invasion continues.

 

[JohnT]

Care to fill the rest of us in? What is so great about Tim Horton's (a restaurant, I assume). I have never heard of it.

 

[Boatboy24]

Just heard on the radio this morning that they plan to open 300 in the US in the next 4 years. I had heard of them, but didn't even know what they were until this morning. Donuts! Someone is trying to fatten us up for the slaughter.

 

[Dino466]

I think they put something in the coffee - it gets very addictive. Sandwiches, chili, bagels, ice cream shops. They are pulling the Ice cream shops out of Canada. Adding 800 stores in 4 years ( 300 US from 700 now and 500 more in Canada I think it 3000 in Canada) I live in a small town 4000 people ( 3 Tim Hortons and with in 2 miles of each other - actual one is on one side of the highway and another on the other only an overpass separates them. It is Canada's version of Starbucks - one on every corner.

 

[cmason1957]

Like I said, I have tried it a few times, when I have been up north ways, as in near Minneapolis. I find it to be pretty durn good coffee and donuts. I found this on another site.

It's a doughnut shop that grew to also serve soups and sandwiches.

Doughnuts are a bit of an obsession in Canada and the ubiquitous Tim Horton's is the reigning king the doughnut shops. When the conglomerate that owns Wendy's bought the chain, the consistency of the product increased but the general quality suffered.

Many are addicted to Tim's coffee and can't start their day without it.

I believe I read elsewhere that Wendy's is no longer associated with Tim Horton's, but I might have made that up. As someone else said, they are the Starbucks of the North.

 

[sour_grapes]

Ahh, if Wendy's owned them, that would explain why (in upstate NY, at least), those two stores are located in the same building, like a mini food court.

 

[Dino466]

They merge in 1992 and separated in 2005. Ron Joyce (started partnership with Tim Horton - Toronto hockey player in 1960's) became friends with Dave Thomas and when they merged Joyce was the larger shareholder in the new company - he retired in the 2000's and Wendy's sold off Tim Horton's. Joyce is from NS - first Tim Horton's camp (for unprivileged kids is in NS). Franchisee have to sponsor youth soccer ( U-10 and below) and Skills hockey (8 and under) - big on community usually sponsors a clean up day in the summer (fundraiser for minor hockey and soccer) mostly the kids are picking up discarded Tim Horton's cups - can't swing a dead cat in Canada without hitting a Tim Horton's.

 

[DirtyDawg10]

We've had a few around here in CT and they can't stay in business. They last a few months and are gone. I thought they were OK. Most people up here prefer Dunkin Donuts I guess. I think their coffee is crap. The donuts aren't much better either. I prefer a small mom & pop store with homemade donuts. My coffee usually comes from the local roaster and I grind and brew it myself. Don't get me wrong, I hit the chains in a pinch but I find their coffee is so bad I have to get it with cream and sugar. I prefer my burr grinder, fresh beans and black coffee. You can keep your Tim Hortons, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.


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[Pumpkinman]

Derek,
I agree, the only chain that we enjoy when we are in the south is Bob Evans, it is super clean and friendly, the food is decent, and the prices are reasonable... Did I mention super clean and friendly.
Here in upstate NY, chains have a hard time competing with diners, diners have been the quick food (you can't call it fast food) that most people go to, usually opened 24/7 and have a menu selection that includes at least a few hundred breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert items!
When you walk into most, you first have to walk past numerous display cases of the most outrageous desserts you can think of, we're talking cakes that stand 10 inches tall, too many pies to remember and so on!

 

[Runningwolf]

I prefer Dunkin CDonuts but Tim Hortons do well around here and They're not bad. I hate Krispie Cream except for watching the donuts being made.

 

[JohnT]

Derek,
I agree, the only chain that we enjoy when we are in the south is Bob Evans, it is super clean and friendly, the food is decent, and the prices are reasonable... Did I mention super clean and friendly.
Here in upstate NY, chains have a hard time competing with diners, diners have been the quick food (you can't call it fast food) that most people go to, usually opened 24/7 and have a menu selection that includes at least a few hundred breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert items!
When you walk into most, you first have to walk past numerous display cases of the most outrageous desserts you can think of, we're talking cakes that stand 10 inches tall, too many pies to remember and so on!

OMG Pumkinman!

I live in new jersey where the "Jersey Diner" is our state bird....

The real Jersey diners are not to be missed. They go well beyond the typical cheeseburger platter (know here as a cheeseburger delux). Menus span from GREAT breakfasts (served 24/7) to Great Dinners (eclectic selections of Italian, Mexican, Greek, and American comfort foods). Again any menu item is available at any time.

They are clean and the prices are reasonable. The perfect place to go at 3am (after a long night of partying).

No chain can ever compete with that. I would say that there really are no chains that truly took off here.