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The Big Apple arrival of Canadian fast food chain Tim Hortons was heralded in by free coffee and a people dressed in giant-sized Tim Hortons cup costumes. One reader recounted the scene at 7th Avenue and 50th Street, "Dunkin has hired people to stand outside the store and hand out $1 coupons in retaliation. The donut wars are on, baby! Inside, the store exceeded my expectations from rule-bending shady-operator Riese. Excellent buildout, flatscreen TVs, as good as anything in Gravenhurst or Cobourg or London. Mob scene was very polite (half the customers were Canadian, after all) and there were 20+ staff trying to handle the rush, including a crew of Tim Hortons training managers brought down from Canada." [Speaking of the donut war, check out the Today Show segment about Tim Hortons in NYC after the jump.]
Another reader chimed in, "There were longish lines this morning at the UES location. The coffee was as good as ever but they didn't have maple donuts!" It's also unclear whether some products are being offered (such as the Dutchie) or if they were just sold out.
We visited the Penn Station concourse location and purchased a box of Timbits, TH's donut hole option. We did our homework over the weekend and had some Dunkin Donuts' Munchkins, and, in this extremely unscientific comparison, we say the Timbits are much better: They seemed fresher (very possibly because the store opened with a big fuss this morning) and have a lighter, less dense texture; they also seemed a bit larger than the standard Munchkin. And, unfortunately, they are addictive, probably because sugar is the devil.
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I need a TUMS just looking at those donut holes.
Just got back from the location near Grand Central. It's a bit cramped due to sharing a space with KFC and the staff was a bit overwhelmed. The coffee was tasty though was way too light (much like dunkin donuts often does). The tidbits most certainly didn't disappoint. I agree, they are much better than dunkin donuts.
This is disgusting-what is this fascination with donuts and overpriced coffee? There are starving developers over in Williamsburg...
Do they have sandwiches there? TH's breakfast and lunch sandwiches are good!
Jen- so funny that you were at the Grand Central concourse today. I was walking through there on my way to the 2 train at about 9:20 this morning and i saw a guy with a professional SLR camera shooting some close- ups of a tray of Timbits from which a Tim Hortons employee was handing out samples. The giant cup was right next to her. I thought to myself... this doesn't seem really Post-worthy, or NY Daily News or Times for that matter... if that photographer worked for a news organization, who would it be...? "AHA, Gothamist!" I thought to myself. This is RIGHT up their alley.
I don't know if that particular photographer was one of yours but sure enough you were at that location and reporting on the story!
I was actually at Penn Station, where there was a pretty big media presence (TV cameras! photographers!). Also, it being Penn Station by the LIRR area, it wasn't as pleasant as the Grand Central concourse.
I thought the staff was overwhelmed at Penn Station, too—but there were plenty of people trying to redirect those interested in just free coffee.
whoops, sorry, I meant I was at Penn station (duh), making my amtrak-to-#2 train transfer.
Sadly, my attempt to buy a box of Timbits for my office today failed. At the Riese restaurant food court on Court St. in downtown brooklyn (which is by far the shabbiest, most disgusting Riese property i've been to), they have the Tim Hortans signage up on the awning and in the windows... but inside just a haphazard mess of donut-making machines and other assorted commercial kitchen gear strewn aboutbehind a cordon of caution tape where the Dunkin Donuts counter used to be. Wonder how long it'll take them to get that location functional.
So the top story of the day in New York City is the opening of a fast-food chain?
Wow.
Why do we need more fast food in ny? We already have plenty of fat c*nts........thanks Canada : (
These are replacing existing Dunkin Donuts locations, so it's not more.
I mean, ok, so this is news on some level, but seriously, gothamist, I hope you're at least raking in some add revenue from Tim Hortons' given all the attention you're giving this opening.
Nah—I just wanted to break up my commute a little and bring back some treats for the office.
yay another place for NYers to get even FATTER!
ugh. gluttonous
This is almost as tedious as the Chrissie Brodigan story.
No Jews, pugs nor frantic women were harmed in the making of these donuts.
This is the kind of research I appreciate! Seriously, I do! I almost never eat donuts and the last few times I've succumbed to DD, they have been crap and ruined the joy of having a donut treat. Next time I cave to a sickly sugar craving, I'll give Tim Hortons the once over.
tim hortons has got some serious PR people. when else has the opening of yet another freakin' chain in the city produced this kind of publicity?
The first Manhattan 7/11 was pretty close to this, though it was before the age of Twitter and blogs like this one were far from "mainstream."
All this fuss with the donuts and coffee. If I want an ice tea I go to whatever is closest.
www.forgotten-ny.com
Being a Buffalo transplant, I'm happy to see Tim Horton's down here. Now if Wegmans moved in, I'd be all set. :)
What, no Tops or Wilson Farms? Snob.
From your lips to God's ears, negtive. Although, I'd settle for a Tops.
Duh. Obviously the place will be busy and it should be for the first few weeks because people want to know what the fuss is all about. Give it a few months after the hype as died down before comparing this place to Dunkin Donuts.
If you people really want great coffee combined with a deli experience let WaWa's move into the city.
One stop shopping.
But then I'd have no excuse to drive down Rt. 9 in Delaware.
I LOVE WaWa. It's one of the things I most look forward to when I go to the Poconos. Their sandwiches are amazing.
I stopped at the 50th and 7th Ave. Timmies. Stood in line as an annoying Canadian stockbroker waxed rhapsodic about how the stock is a buy. I finally got my large Tim's coffee with double milk and a turkey bacon sandwich for about 6 bucks and change. I'm in heaven!
It looks like they've actually changed the menu from the Canadian one. Last time I checked, Tim's in Canada didn't carry the Sausage and Biscuit or the Breakfast Sandwich like this. In Canada, they have delicious Chicken Salad and fresh Ham and Swiss Sandwiches on little rolls. I'm actually in Canada right now and it's definitely a different menu.
Tim Hortons' Timbits are a Canadian fave, and Beavertails are a scrumptious specialty in Ottawa, where the restaurant scene has been sizzling.
I got yer Timbits RIGHT HERE, jerky!
i'm from montreal and i can't stand tim hortons, their donuts make me sick :/
its nice to know tim hortons is now back in Canadian hands :)