Tim Hortens is more than just a doughnut place for every Canadian. It is a community center and has a place in Canadian identity. The first “restaurant” being started in May 1964 Hamilton (Ontario) at the crossing Ottawa Street North and Dunsmure Road by the the ice hockey player Miles Gilbert “Tim” Hortens, playing for the Toronto Maple Leaves, and his partner Jim Charade to provide an income in off season. Hortens later played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New York Rangers, and finally the Buffalo Sabres. The restaurant chain was expanded with the investor Ron Joyce and grew into a multinational business with nearly 6000 restaurants in 13 countries. In 2014 Burger King and Tim Hortens merges in an US$ 11.4 billion deal.
For the 1973/74 hockey season Hortens played for the Buffalo Sabres and received a De Tomaso Pantera as a sign up bonus. Driving back from Buffalo on February 21st, 1977, he lost control of the sports car at high speed and fatally crashed. Tim Hortens became 44 years old.
The restaurant chain, unlike Starbucks, became never quite so successful in the USA. It does not have the “Starbucks chique”, if there is something like that. But in Canada, nearly no settlement is without one. And in the cities, definitely in Toronto, if you want a doughnut, coffee or sandwich, the next one is definely just a few steps away.
The original location on Ottawa Street North in Hamilton, seems to be just starting again some gentrification. There are some design stores and even an art gallery. But nothing really special yet. Of course, I am wondering how it looked like back in 1964.
The first Tim Hortens Franchise in 1964 (photo Creative Commons)
Tim Hortens at the same location in Hamilton in 2025
