Medicine Hat Media

Tim Hortons: An Epidemic

While in the mall yesterday I noticed that a new restaurant will be joining our food court. But much to my dismay, upon closer investigation I discovered that this new addition will be yet another Tim Hortons. Why does Medicine Hat need another one? Isn’t having one in nearly every corner of the city enough? Will it ever be enough?

I think what bothered me most is as I saw the “coming soon” sign I realized that when the new Tim’s location is finished one can very easily see both the mall location and the Trans Canada Way location across the parking lot at the same time. I almost feel the need to remind everyone that we are not in New York City, this is not a place where Starbucks inhabits every corner of every street. With that being said, I believe this phenomena can be known as an epidemic.

Although I don’t drink coffee, I still enjoy the great value Tim’s has to offer. I will never understand the people waiting in a six car line at 8 in the morning but other than that I think Tim Hortons is great. However, I don’t think Medicine Hat needs one in the mall, or anywhere else. A new restaurant that is legitimately new to the city would be much more welcome in my eyes.

User Comments

9 Responses to “Tim Hortons: An Epidemic”

  1. October 12th, 2009 at 9:57 AM


    Sean says:

    I talked with Von about it last night and he made a comment about it relieving traffic congestion, which it might somewhat, but it’s only badly congested around the mornings before the mall is open. Even so, the inside of Tim Horton’s is often not as busy as the drive thru, so it is unlikely that people will get out of their cars in a busy parking lot to go inside the mall.

  2. October 12th, 2009 at 3:25 PM


    Vaughn says:

    These types of things are never taken lightly, especially with the economics right now. There was a public demand for another Tim Horton’s in the city, otherwise they wouldn’t of done it. You shouldn’t solely blame Tim Hortons, it’s the people and their unholy obsession with it. I drink lots of coffee in a day, but would never dream to go there or any other coffee place more than once a day.

    Also, if anything, there should of been one in the mall to begin with. Hundreds of mall employees will be flocking to it every day, every morning, maybe lunch, or maybe even every single break. Cash cow! For that reason, I doubt this relieve any congestion of the other Tim Hortons because this one is gaining more buyers anyways.

    If it wasn’t a Tim Hortons going there, it probably would have been a McDonalds or a Burger King (equally bad). The problem is the mall charges insane rates for any spot in the mall, especially the food places. The locally owned restaurant/coffee/sandwich shop that was there couldn’t afford it – I doubt any non-franchise would be able to.

    At the rate of population/building increase in the city, I would wager a guess that there will be another 5 Tim Hortons in 5 years time. Maybe even a couple more Starbucks for people like me 🙂

  3. October 12th, 2009 at 4:53 PM


    Taylor says:

    I’m sure there must have been a demand from all those crazy Tim Hortons junkies but at the very least they could spread them out a little more. I’m pretty sure there isn’t one in Crescent Heights, or in the light industrial area. There is absolutely no reason for there to be two within sight of each other at least until the city has been too overpopulated with the restaurant to avoid it.

  4. October 12th, 2009 at 5:59 PM


    Michelle says:

    no, i stand firmly knowing that this will be a great thing! i used to work in the mall, and as i am still a timmie’s coffee addict, i would have loved this while working. you can’t leave the mall for a break and don’t even have time to run across the parking lot. i agree there should be more in a different location though, such as crescent heights, or even at the college (instead of the expensive starbucks we have now!). as a coffee addict – it’s less that $2 for an xl coffee. I’ll line up in the morning which in turn prevents some major personal bodily harm to others! 😉

  5. October 12th, 2009 at 7:57 PM


    Mr. Canada says:

    I love Tim Hortons, and I don’t see this as an overly terrible thing. At least it isn’t a drive-thru Tim Hortons.

    Instead of bothering with Tim Hortons however, we should be working towards an entirely new mall.

  6. October 12th, 2009 at 10:45 PM


    Dean says:

    I agree with Vaughn — more Starbucks is what this city really needs. Enough with Tim Hortons already, yet.

  7. October 13th, 2009 at 3:36 PM


    Dusty says:

    “I will never understand the people waiting in a six car line at 8 in the morning” – THAT’S why we need a new one. I can just imagine from the perspective of people working there that it would go over well.

    More importantly, the mall does offer a lot of things but a decent cup of coffee is not one of them, so now everybody going there in the mornings has those options. I realize that there’s one across the parking lot but it seems like a huge inconvenience to make a stop there than go to the mall and walk your coffee around – if that’s what you’re going to do.

    I’m not an addict, but Timmy’s has things I love for a great price that I can’t get elsewhere. Maybe the french vanilla doesn’t compare to the caramel macchiato but Starbucks doesn’t have that french vanilla, let alone for the price Timmy’s does. We have two Starbucks, and only occasionally do I see it being really busy.

    It seems less to do about what some people would prefer to see and more about what lots of people need.

  8. October 13th, 2009 at 4:32 PM


    Hatter on the North side says:

    Medicine Hat could use more independant coffee shops. In the meantime, there is a fantastic one on 3rd (close to the Tims downtown), that I will continue to support.

  9. May 19th, 2010 at 12:04 AM


    Aimee Chapman says:

    my family is really interested in Coffee Franchise like Starbucks. we are still saving money for the franchise cost.—

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