Canadian-based coffee shop Tim Hortons sets a date for grand opening in Columbus
The Canadian-based coffee shop Tim Hortons will be opening its first Columbus location on June 16.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 6741 Veterans Parkway next Friday at 11 a.m., Atlanta businessman and franchisee Abid Khutliwala told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Khutliwala is opening another Popeyes next door to Tim Hortons that is still under construction, he said. And another business will soon be under construction on the lot on the other side of the coffee shop, the developer said.
“I feel like this is kind of the heart of Columbus on Veterans Parkway,” Khutliwala said. “(There are) a lot of coffee places like Starbucks, Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ down the road. I feel like it’s a good market.”
The freshness of the food and coffee at Tim Hortons will set it apart from competitors in Columbus, he said. The breakfast sandwiches and pastries are made fresh in the store, Khutliwala said, adding the brand does not use frozen products.
Tim Hortons has more than 5,200 locations worldwide, according to a news release, with over 600 locations in the U.S. primarily in Ohio, Michigan and western New York.This Columbus location will be the first Tim Hortons in the Southeastern United States, he said.
“We’re ready to open our doors in Georgia and serve our new Columbus neighbors, as well as Tims fans from across the state, including Georgia-based Canadians who have been eager to have a Tims closer to home,” said President of Tim Hortons USA, Katerina Glyptis in a news release.
Free coffee for a year?
More Tim Hortons locations will be opening in Georgia throughout 2023, according to the release. Khutliwala, who owns four Popeyes and two Checkers in the Columbus area, is planning to bring two more Tim Hortons to the city over the next two years.
Columbus being the second largest city in Georgia and the presence of Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) was part of the reason that made it appealing to launch Tim Hortons in the South, Khutliwala said. He also was confident that it would do well in Muscogee County because the success had by the businesses Khutilwala already established in the region.
“I’ve been wanting to bring this brand for the last six or seven years,” he said. “But the brand was not ready with a distribution process and everything. Fortunately, I was able to strike the deal that was able to convince them.”
Tim Hortons will open at 5 a.m. on June 16, Khutliwala said, and the first 50 cars to order through the drive-thru will receive free coffee for a year.
Other activities and deals may be announced to celebrate the opening, he said, and people can follow the coffee shop’s social media accounts to see when more details are announced.
The coffee shop will be open every day from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. with drive-thru and dine-in seating.
Opening the first Tim Hortons in the Southeast region is something Khutliwala will always remember, he said, and he’s happy Columbus will launch the market.
“We need support from people in Columbus so that this location is successful,” Khutliwala said. “I’ve always been a part of this community, with Popeye’s and Checkers doing really well, and I’m looking forward to the same thing (with Tim Hortons).”
