Some would call it our national obsession – after hockey and beer, of course. So much so, that the colloquial term double-double (referring to a coffee with two creams and two sugars) was actually added to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary a few years ago.
Tim Hortons boasts nearly 3000 restaurants nationwide, including three in neighbouring Langford, but none in Sooke. I’ve been in smaller towns across this country that have a Tim’s, so why doesn’t Sooke?
This morning on Facebook, I noticed a group started by some Sooke residents called, appropriately, People Who Want A Tim Hortons In Sooke. As of this post, 156 members had joined since the group was created 2 days ago. The creator of the group, Randy Marsh, contacted Tim Hortons in Oakville, Ontario and received this response about his inquiry as to the lack of caffeinated-and-sugary-Tim’s-goodness in our little hometown:
Dear Randy Marsh ,
I would like to thank you for taking the time to write to us with your location suggestion as well as for your valued patronage.
Your suggestion has been forwarded to our Real Estate Department for their review and consideration. It is through feedback from valued customers, such as yourself, that we are continually able to grow as a company.
If you have any further questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind Regards,
Goga
Operations Services
The TDL Group Corp.
What do you think? Would you like a Tim Hortons in Sooke? I don’t particularly care for Tim’s coffee myself, and I try and avoid doughnuts and muffins altogether, but I admit that their soups and sandwiches are pretty tasty if you’re in a pinch. The one thing I really dislike about Tim’s (and, to be fair, most fast food outlets), is the litter that’s left lying on the ground in close proximity to the store. It’s not the business’s fault – facilities are provided for responsible disposal – but the two go hand-in-hand.
I posed the question on Twitter this morning, and have already received a half-dozen-or-so responses. An interesting counter-question came about: Timmy’s for the sake of Timmy’s, or just a place to hang out in the evening when everything else is closed. A good point – most Tim’s are open 24 hours or at least very late and very early. Another point is that Tim Hortons provides decent employment for youth, and would keep more dollars in Sooke rather than spending them elsewhere.
I’m interested to hear what my readers think. Post a response in the comments (click through if you’re reading this in a reader or e-mail).
–Tim Ayres – Sooke Real Estate Professional
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For a good coffee I’ll go to The Stick. Sooke needs more tasty local venues, ala Nut Pop Thai… but for better or worse, every small town needs a Timmies, just the way it is. Kids, seniors, everyone seems to have some appreciation for the place.
No doubt a Tim Hortons will do great in Sooke. Anything that keeps people in the town centre is a bonus.
Thanks for your comment, Jason.
Agreed, the Stick In The Mud really is the best coffee in Sooke, and probably the whole Island.
“Work is Boring, I’m going to the Stick.”
I think I might just have to work from there this afternoon. Free Wifi!
I cannot believe there isn’t already one in Sooke – it seems much more a Timmies kinda town, rather than – say – Starbucks. We are only ever in Sooke probably 2-3 times a year, but with the kids – so timbits would be welcomed by my family 🙂
Yes, I would like to publicly raise my hand in favour of a Timmys in Sooke.
I love Tim Hortons. Sure my thighs don’t agree with the donuts..but the price is right. A large double double is what gets me thru the day sometimes! Haha, and it’s Canadian..also it would create so many jobs out here in Sooke. Plus it beats McDonalds…no offense McD’s.
There was one time, I had $30 to get me through until payday, and that was good enough for 1 meal a day at Tim Hortons. And when i get back into fishing, I wouldn’t mind having a Tim Hortons on the way to Otter Point!
A LOT of people have sent me hate mail, saying that putting a Tim’s in Sooke would shut down local establishments, and that may be true, but I have already sent the message to Tim Hortons! SORRY!
Thanks for the comment, Randy.
I don’t think that having a Tim’s in Sooke would hurt other local businesses. I believe that people who want Tim’s coffee are going to buy it wherever they can get it, and right now that’s nowhere in Sooke. Better to keep the dollars in Sooke than send them elsewhere. Also, people need to realise that most Tim’s stores are individually owned and operated by franchisees, which would probably be a local Sooke businessperson.
There really isn’t a place to compete with Tim’s here in Sooke. The Stick is in a league of its own. People who love The Stick probably wouldn’t go to Tim’s for coffee. Serious Coffee, likewise. Each cafe in Sooke has its own particular brand of customers. Tim’s might draw business away from McDonald’s or A&W, but still, Tim’s doesn’t serve hamburgers anyway.
I think Sooke is a perfect spot for a Tim Hortons from a business perspective.
Good luck with your petition to Tim Hortons headquarters!
I am so not a fan of having a Timmies in Sooke. Leave it in Langford where we can stop in a hurry if needed. I think we need to support our “local” fantastic shops that create real food from real ingredients, not prepackaged garbage with who knows what in it. Sure it would be a place for our local kids to hang out, but do we really want or local kids drinking coffee and loading up on trans fats? Lets look at some better options. Sure you can get a coffee and a doughnut for under $3 but lets think quality and the nutrients you are buying. Sorry Tim hortons compared to our local gems is Like Cubic Zirconium to Canadian Diamonds.
I hate to sound “Old Sooke” because I believe in the development and growth of this amazing community… But I’m against a Timmies in Sooke… I will continue to support our local cafes and restaurants: the Stick, Little Vienna Bakery, Reading Room, Alternative Kitchen (although I’d love to get in there a do a makeover), Stone Pipe,and Serious Coffee… I love these places because I have come to know many of the owners and their families… I would just hate to see any of them lose business to Tim Hortons…
See now, Serious Coffee is a franchise, just as Tim Hortons is. It isnt “local” There are stores up and down the island.
I think a Tim Hortons in sooke would do really well, but i dont think it would hurt the other establishments, because obviously, they’ll have their regular customers, no doubt, but if it doesnt work, then it doesnt work. thats business.
I hate the idea of a Tim Horton’s in Sooke.
1) Economics — a few jobs created at minimum wage pales in comparison to the net net effect of a flow of cash from Sooke to corporate coffers somewhere in Ontario. Supporting local business not only gets you higher quality product, it also supports the town in the long run. Money stays in town, gets spent in town. It’s more human.
2) Poor quality of product. Lots of sugar and poorly traded coffee beans.
3) Litter, as you’ve mentioned, but more generally waste. I *do* in fact think it is at least to some extent the responsibility of the business. A good coffee shop, like Stick in the Mud, offers real cups. Less waste for the landfill AND a better experience. Go figure.
4) Corporate businesses make a town look and feel generic, reducing its own inherent culture. They also tend to increase car culture.
Overall I think it’s a terrible idea. If there’s a need for a late night hang out spot, we live in a free market — a locally owned place with at least some style can fill that niche.
Corporations manage to rule small town North America specifically because they enter these markets when they’re young, operating at a small loss initially (which they can afford) but eventually making mass profits. It gives an illusion that they’re propping the local economy when in reality local business is what supports the economy. There is no interest on the part of some shareholder in Toronto, let alone the corporation as a whole, in actually making life better for people in Sooke. There’s a disconnect inherent in the corporate setup, between the shareholder and the consumer.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks Shiraz, for your well-thought-out and detailed comment!
I personally would very much like to see a Timmies in Sooke and I would like to address a few of the earlier comments.
First about economics, Tim Horton’s is a franchise. This means that some local business person must come up with the required money to even purchase a franchise. Then there is the business for local construction to build the store. Add to that the employment of locals (who by the way spend their hard earned money here in Sooke). The comment about minimum wage was made. My daughter could walk to a Timmies located where the gas station used to be next to A&W in about 20 minutes or she could take a 40 to 45 minute bus ride into Langford that would eat $76.00 a month out of the minimum wage job she could find there. Seems to me it would be greener and cheaper just to walk. As for the money, yes, some of that would end up in corporate coffers, but the majority of it would stay in Sooke as it would be a locally owned business.
As for making Sooke look generic it is far too late for that by the standards of one individual. Nothing personal against these companies, but last time I checked Home Hardware, A&W’s, McDonald’s and Sub Way are all corporate companies of which only one is not an American company. Oops, your dollars are not only leaving Sooke, but leaving the country to end up in corporate coffers.
As for transfats, look no further than Grandma’s flaky pie crust. It gets flaky through the use of shortening (a.k.a. partially hydrogenated vegetable oil otherwise known as transfat).
Litter. A company can only do or be responsible for so much. Tim Horton’s unlike most other companies has an anti-litter campaign. As I read the bottom of the Timmies paper cup I see “PLEASE DO NOT LITTER” in both official languages and many of their ads say this too. Tim Horton’s also offers a $0.10 discount on your cup of coffee if you bring in a reusable mug. As well, you may get your coffee in a ceramic mug when inside a full restaurant. Our society must take a large portion of the blame for litter. I have literally watched people throw an empty wrapper on the ground instead of walking the two or three paces it would take to toss it in a trash bin.
As for quality, I agree that it may not be the best, but Tim Horton’s quality and trade policies far exceed many other large companies. Timmies also supports under privileged youth to go to camp and play sports.
Please don’t get me wrong I do love my Timmies, but I am also a fan of Serious Coffee and now that I’ve heard of it I will go and give Stick in the Mud a try.
Thanks for the well-written and thoughtful response. I believe I covered most of what you mentioned in my post, and for the most part, I agree with everything you say above. I think that any business that starts up in our community is a good thing, corporate-based or not. I really do hate the litter issue though. You are right – there is only so much a company can do, but the litter will still be there. I’d love to see somebody standing outside a fast food place throw their garbage on the ground instead of putting it where it belongs. They’d hear an earful, that’s for sure.
Thanks again for commenting.