[UPDATE] Tim Hortons to Open First Georgia Location, Supplanting Dunkin' in Midtown

The first Tim Hortons location in Georgia is set to open in just a few short days.  The new eatery, located in Columbus, is slated to open Friday, June 16.  The first outpost of the Canadian staple known for its coffee, donuts and breakfast sandwiches, is being opened by entrepreneur Abid Khutliwala and his Purple Star Cafe Inc.  Khutliwala signed a development agreement to open as many as 15 Tim Hortons in Georgia.  In total, the company expects to have 30 restaurants open in Georgia by 2027, according to a March release.    

The ground-up Columbus location, located at 6741 Veterans Parkway, will award free coffee for a year to the first 50 cars to order through the drive-through.   

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.  He also plans to open a new Popeyes next to the soon to open Tim Hortons on Veterans Parkway.  

Tim Hortons, or "Tims," as it's known to fans, was founded in Canada in 1964 and has today expanded to more than 5,200 locations around the world. Nearly 4,000 of the chain's locations are in Canada with another 600 or so in the northern parts of the United States, but the company has also announced an agreement to bring 30 locations to the Houston, Texas area as part of its expansion efforts.  

In 2021 Tim Hortons partnered with Canadian born and onetime Atlanta resident Justin Bieber on special "Timbiebs Timbits" and in 2022 on "Biebs Brew."  

Once part of the Wendy's company, Tim Hortons was purchased by Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International (RBI) for $11.4 billion in 2014.  

In addition to the Columbus restaurant, another ground-up Tims is planned for 6510 Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro where the franchisee is building a new 1,600 square foot eatery in place of the former Level 2 Sports Bar.   

A building permit filed in May indicates Atlanta is also in store for a Tims!  According to the May 23 permit, Tims plans to open in the same building as an existing BP convenience store at 610 Spring Street near North Avenue, across from The Varsity and just off 75/85, close to Georgia Tech.  The building was recently enlarged with the Tims slated to occupy what was previously a drive-thru enabled Dunkin' [Donuts].  Dunkin', today part of Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, opened in late 2019 a drive-thru enabled unit at 1270 Spring Street in the street level of the Spectrum on Spring apartments, a little more than a mile from the upcoming Tims.  The permit indicates that $70,000 will be spent converting the nearly 1,000 square foot space adjacent to the BP.  

A new outpost of local business JJ Fish & Chicken is also slated to open at 610 Spring, according to a separate building permit.  

A representative from Tims said in March that the company would open a "downtown Atlanta" location "in a couple of months."  While one could infer that the company confused Midtown and Downtown, a short-lived Arby's at 34 Peachtree Street near Georgia State University could make for a good Downtown outpost.  The Arby's - 2,600 square feet - is larger than a typical Tims, but opened in late 2015 and closed in 2020, which should mean limited conversion costs given the newness of the infrastructure and buildout.  

Shipley Do-Nuts, another regionally popular donut shop, entered the Georgia market this past March with an outpost in Cumming.  Another location in under construction on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.  

Are you excited for the planned opening of Tim Hortons in Atlanta?  What chain restaurant do you think makes the best donut?  Where would you like to see the next Tim Hortons open?

Please share your thoughts below.