I know a lot of people have lost their unconditional love for Tim Hortons some time ago. The main reason? They used to make their donuts and other baked goods from scratch twice each day at each store. They now ship partially-baked, flash-frozen baked goods to stores from a central warehouse. Stores then “finish” the baking process in microwave/convection ovens. The stuff just doesn’t taste the way it used to.

That is a big issue for many. Other smaller issues include indifferent service at many locations, the ongoing franchisee disputes, and improved options at fast food places like Starbucks, McDonalds and A&W. And it’s not just us – even The Guardian in the U.K. has taken note of the decline of our mighty Timmies.

But “Timmies” still matters

Despite these issues, I still applaud Tim Hortons for remaining a touchstone/meeting place for Canadians. Which is why I was shocked to discover the pre-Christmas closure of a large, seemingly busy Tim Hortons when I visited a friend on the Danforth recently.

Apparently, the closure came with no warning. Just a locked door on December 24, 2018, at the busy corner of Logan and Danforth. This was the place where a large group of retired Greek men (maybe 10 to 15 at a time) met every morning for coffee, where many teachers and parents from the school across the street got their caffeine hit, and where many a toddler met their first Timbit. You can read about it here.

The “scoop” from the jeweller across the street was that the landlord was insolvent and couldn’t keep the place up. So, the franchisee bailed when the lease was up. Maybe true, maybe not. But regardless of the reason, the closure has changed the daily or weekly routines of hundreds of people.

Yes, there is a Second Cup, Timothy’s and Starbucks within walking distance on the Danforth, but none of them has the seating to accommodate large groups or is as close to the school and community centre as the former Tim Hortons. Loyal customers have had to find an alternative, but none will quite be the same.

So, ask yourself: if Tim Hortons is part of your life, where would you go if your favourite location went under? With closures like this one coming out of the blue, it’s never too early to plan your backup. And while you’re at it, maybe give some thought to your existing estate plan. Life is full of unexpected surprises!

Thanks for reading … Enjoy your day,
Suzana Popovic-Montag