There are about 200 Tim Horton restaurants in the USA.

On Mar 8, 2005, at 8:11 PM, gmarquis wrote:

> Hello:
>
> Canadian members of the listserve, and those who have visited Canada,
> will
> naturally think of the ubiquitous Tom Horton chain, named after the
> 'late' NHL player.
> These outlets started in the 1970s, and they still seem to l be
> springing up on
> surburban
> corners, near highway exit ramps and on college campuses (our
> university recently
> decided to allow an outlet on campus).
>
> When a small community gets its 'Tims,' there is a swelling or pride
> almost like when
> Wal-Mart comes to town.
>
> Many Canadians plan their trips around Tim's-for example, a 400 km
> drive might involve
> 2-3 stops at different Tims, which seem to be strategically located.
>
> The franchises are expensive-and lucrative. In my area it is rare for
> a single shop to
> be owned by one person-people seem to own 2 or more.
>
> In the 1970s, there was not much emphasis on takeout-customers drank
> their generic
> coffee in ceramic mugs, and there was a lot of smoking on the premises
> (and smoky
> doughnuts). This was still a period when many folks would stop at the
> local 'mom and
> pop'
> restauarant or diner for coffee and pie, etc. Many of these 'greasy
> spoons' are now
> gone.
> In certain Tom Horton's in the 1970s, I always suspected that many of
> the middle-aged
> male customers, who smoked heavily and drank a lot of coffee, were
> recovering
> alcoholics who were still used to the 'night life.'
>
> In the 80s and 90s the chain proliferated, and added bagels, soups,
> sandwiches, etc.
> Non-smoking sections were added, then they went smoke free (no more
> smoky doughnuts).
> And then, as the 'drive through' culture was encouraged, the Tim's
> chain added drive
> through windows. People will sit and burn lots of 95 cent a litre gas
> to buy a $1.15
> 'double-double' or 'triple-triple.' In some cases the early morning
> trade ties up major
> urban
> roads. Most business seems to be take-out (either walk-in or drive-by).
>
> Tim's has exploited the 'Canadian identity' much like Molson's beer.
> It was spoofed in
> Mike Myers' "Wayne's World" movies (he grew up in Scarborough,
> Ontario).
>
> As far as I know, the overall company is now American owned.
>
> This would make for a great sociological or anthropological study.
>
> I'll be making my stop at 8:15 am tomorrow.
>
> Greg Marquis
>