As a Western New Yorker, I’ve grown up going to Tim Hortons, and it’s a staple on long drives and early mornings.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I stopped by the original location, first opened in 1964, on a recent trip to Toronto.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The restaurant had clearly been updated since its opening nearly 60 years ago, but it had a photo of how it originally looked on the wall outside.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Outside the entrance, there was a large statue of co-founder and namesake of the chain, Tim Horton.
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Horton, named one of the 100 best hockey players of all time by the NHL, continued his career while starting up the chain.
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Source: NHL
He died in a car accident in 1974 at age 44, only a decade after finding his nameake chain.
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Being named after a hockey legend might be part of why Tim Hortons is beloved among Canadians.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Tim Horton’s is mostly known as a breakfast destination, but its menu has grown to include lunch and all-day coffee and baked goods.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I had several iced coffees from the chain during my trip, and a medium came out to a reasonable $1.99 in US dollars.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Everything about Tim Hortons screams “Canadian pride,” down to the maple leaf on the cup.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There are actually more Tim Hortons restaurants than McDonald’s restaurants in Canada, at 3,928 to about 1,400, respectively.
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Source: RBI, McDonald’s
The store I visited had a section of Tim Hortons merchandise, like mugs and sweatshirts. The setup reminded me of Starbucks, which often has a similar product lineup.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The layout was similar to other Tim Hortons restaurants I’ve been in, with display cases for baked goods next to the register.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
There’s also a selection of sandwiches, and I chose an Impossible Sausage sandwich with egg and cheese.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
I’m not vegetarian, but I thought it was delicious and I’d happily order it again.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Off to the side of the counter, there were lockers to pick up mobile orders. I haven’t seen this system before, but it seems like a potentially smart way to handle order pickup.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Unlike most Tim Hortons restaurants, this location had a second level.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
The second floor featured further dedications to the location’s history, including this plaque noting the opening date.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Tim Hortons remains popular under RBI, with over $1.5 billion in sales in its most recent financial quarter.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: RBI
I’ll definitely remain a customer, even if infrequently.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.