CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Area fans of Tim Hortons have long-dreaded the hike, er, drive. You see, the closest location of the restaurant chain beloved for its coffee and donuts is in Mansfield.
Central and southern Ohio has them. So does Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania.
Well, Northeast Ohioans can finally rest easy and rejoice: In 2018, the Canadian fast food chain will expand to Northeast Ohio.
"We're looking at opening 105 locations starting next year," says Jeff Linville, President of TH Cleveland, the Beachwood-based franchisee for Tim Hortons Bakery and Cafe. "We're currently looking at buying properties and plan to open seven or eight Tim Hortons next year."
Founded in Hamilton, Ont. in 1964, the chain owned or franchised 4,613 restaurants as of Dec. 31, 2016. Less than 15 percent of those were in the United States -- though that number is likely to increase.
"They're everywhere in Canada and they have a huge following up there," says Linville. "But we're seeing a big expansion into the United States and Cleveland is a big part of that."
For many years, Cleveland was the, ahem, hole to what seemed like a big donut. Tim Hortons has a large presence in surrounding cities -- Detroit, Buffalo, Erie and increasingly in Columbus and Cincinnati - and yet has been conspicuously absent in the area.
"It's hard to believe that you had all these places around Cleveland but nothing here," says Linville. "It seems like a natural for Cleveland because there's a familiarity with the brand due to people traveling and seeing it elsewhere."
The expansion into Northeast Ohio will include spots opening from Sandusky to Ashtabula , reaching out to Youngstown, Akron, Canton and Warren. It corresponds with an expanding menu.
Co-founded by and named after the National Hockey League great, Tim Horton Donuts started out a simple shop renowned for its coffee and donuts. It has since expanded the offerings to include espresso, cappuccino and lattes, along with sandwiches.
"Tim Hortons has a good presence, but we're still going to have to familiarize people with it," says Linville. TH Cleveland has hired Cleveland-based Brokaw advertising agency as part of its move into Cleveland.
"We're moving fast," says Linville. "By May 2018, we hope to have the first one open."