An American in Tim Hortons
Before I ever arrived in Canada I had heard the legends of Tim Hortons – a coffee and doughnut shop that is more like the collective Canadian living room than a restaurant.
From what I knew, it sounded about as Canadian as could be. Founded in the 1960′s by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tim Horton, the chain has since grown into the largest fast food restaurant in Canada with over 3,000 restaurants.They now serve up doughnuts, coffee, sandwiches, soups, and their popular Timbits – similar to doughnut holes – to hungry Canadians across the nation. They are even expanding to several international locations around the globe.
But to Canadians, Tim Hortons is so much more than just another Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks. It has entered the collective conscience of Canadians and is an important part of Canadian culture – perhaps as much as hockey or the maple leaf.
During my trip to Canada, I had the chance to visit a Tim Hortons on a couple occasions – both times for breakfast. At first glance, the store didn’t look that different from a Dunkin Donuts. But as I spent more time there, I began to notice the subtle yet significant differences.
It was clear that there were a lot of regulars in the store and the employees knew many of the customers very well. Also, the customers seemed to know one another well – or at the very least were being incredibly friendly to one another. Conversations were taking place in line, between tables, and even at the door as people finished their thoughts before bracing against the cold and going back out to their respective cars. It seemed as if Tim Hortons was its own ‘micro-community’ in the form of a doughnut shop.
But what about the food? After all, that’s why I originally came to Tim Hortons. To be honest, the doughnuts seemed pretty standard to me. Over the course of my visits, I tried the Canadian maple, blueberry, and honey dip doughnuts. The doughnuts were good, but when is fried dough with a significant amount of sugar a bad thing? There was nothing that really made the doughnuts stand out from what I would get at any other half-decent doughnut shop. The doughnuts were high quality and fresh, but they just didn’t offer anything spectacular. So why do the Canadians come here in droves?
Maybe it’s not really about the doughnuts…
My guess (and Canadians, please correct if I’m wrong) is that Tim Hortons is more like your favorite meal your mom cooked for you when you were a kid. Maybe she still cooks it for you, once a year, on your birthday….even though you’re pushing 30. And maybe you have great nostalgic memories of it. But maybe your tastes have evolved since then and what tasted good as a child isn’t necessarily what you would prefer today. But that’s not why you eat it.
Maybe the meal is more about the memories and the good feelings it conjures. And maybe that’s what Tim Hortons is – a feeling. A feeling of pride as you celebrate your little league hockey win with a helping of Timbits. A feeling of community as you share a box of doughnuts with your neighbors at a PTA meeting. A feeling of camaraderie as you pick up the coffee for your buddies at work every Wednesday. It’s a part of the Canadian community and the Canadian shared heritage.
But as an American, I can never fully understand the Canadian feeling towards Tim Hortons. Rather, I can only appreciate it from an outsider’s perspective. The closest relationship that comes to mind for me is the American relationship towards Coca-Cola. No other brand is as recognized, and for many, Coca-Cola can generate feelings of good times and happiness (or at least that’s what their advertising campaigns tell us). And like it or not, Coca-Cola has had a major influence on American culture, and can be viewed as a source of American pride. It is somewhat comforting knowing that no matter where I am in the world, I’ll be able to get a Coca-Cola.
To me Tim Hortons comes off as more authentic than Coca-Cola – no slick multi-million dollar advertising campaigns or shrines built in their honor. And more importantly, it provides a meeting space (the living room of Canada I referenced earlier) that Coca-Cola cannot offer. Canadians from Halifax to Vancouver come to Tim’s every morning to meet friends or make new ones in a friendly, non-judgmental setting that attracts rich and poor alike.
Perhaps we could use a place like that in the United States.
9 Responses to An American in Tim Hortons
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I’ve only been to Tim Hortons a couple times, in Montreal years ago. To be honest, I didn’t pick up on the vibe you’re describing. Perhaps it didn’t seem all that different from the local Dunkin’ Donuts shops I grew up with in New England, where everyone knew everyone else. Or perhaps I need to try a different Tim Hortons, one outside of Quebec.
I’m sure it can vary from restaurant to restaurant…the one I noted in particular was in a suburb of Victoria on Vancouver Island. I imagine that a location in a more urban area would be very different. Or maybe I was just there on a very ‘community-oriented’ day.
What did you think of the food?
The food was … mmm … donuts. The coffee was decent. My then-wife ordered a hot chocolate and liked it. Nothing was special, but there was nothing to complain about, either. I’d go again, but I haven’t been anywhere near a Tim Hortons in ages.
For me, Tim Horton’s isn’t really about childhood comforts. It’s more of a reliable standard. I’m not one of those people who will say Timmy’s has the best coffee and donuts ever, but it’s okay. And some people might ask why have okay coffee, but it’s something I’m use to. And I always like that I can get a coffee and donut for under $3.
Good point Alouise. I’m sure it’s nice knowing that you can always have the old standby of Tim Hortons for reliability if you need something quick, decent, and cheap.
Haha! For starters, the Canadian in me LOVES the title! Yes, a small part of our love for Timmy’s is about the titbits and coffee (both can get addictive) . It’s also great comfort during our (very) cold winters. But here’s the real reason Timmy’s is so big for us Canadians here. Sadly, it’s one of the few major distinctions we have to call our very own. Among the invasions of American fast food joints, the Ambercrombies, and the like, Timmy’s is still Canadian and we are so proud of that
Everything we own seems to get bought out by our friends to the south (Eatons became Simpsons, Zellers now Target) So it’s nice we can have Timmy’s (for now Lol!)
But if I’m craving a good latte, I have to place my Canadian pride aside and head to Starbucks. Their Cha lattes are incredible! (pls don’t tell my Canadian friends!
Cristina (@travolution) recently posted..I Want to ‘Go with Oh’ to Prague!
In my opinion as a Canadian, Tim Horton is part of our culture, a tradition and like Cristina said, something that is uniquely Canadian that we are proud of. It`s a place to meet friends and family, to hangout and to enjoy good food, great coffee and the occasional treat. The average Canadian goes to Tim Horton at least twice a week…for many, they go everyday for the coffee especially and the breakfast sandwiches. I don`t even like doughnuts or coffee but do enjoy the soups, tea biscuits, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and yogurt parfaits. There is a lot more to Tim Horton`s than just doughnuts.
Thanks for writing this post and letting me go on about our familie`s favorite coffee shop:)
Sophie recently posted..Coastal Pet Holt Total Control Training Harness Review
It’s great to have the viewpoint of another Canadian, thanks Sophie! Glad you could share.
ooops! I just realized the typo in my post! Oh my gosh how embarrassing loll! I thought I could do the “Canadian thing” by posting my polite “i’m sorry” Lol!
….i really meant “timbits”! hehe
Cristina (@travolution) recently posted..I Want to ‘Go with Oh’ to Barcelona!