New Tim Hortons lagging behind

For anyone who marched down Main Street on the first day of school expecting to see the shiny, brand new full-service Tim Hortons location on campus, contain your misery.

Due to legal agreements moving slowly between Sodexo and Mount Royal University, things didn’t get rolling in time for a fall opening. Tim Hortons is now set to open in January.

Although almost everyone on campus is looking forward to this event, it is arguable that no one is more excited than Sodexo general manager Brent Mann.

Photo: Ashton Faulkner

“There is honestly nothing in my professional life right now that I’m more looking forward to,” Mann said of finishing the project.

“I care a lot about this university. I know it’s important to everyone here and it’s extremely important to me as well.”

Mann admitted the delays in getting the full-service Timmies built is old news, but the good news is that construction is scheduled to begin shortly. The construction contract will be on tender on Oct. 15 and will close on Oct. 31.

“Construction will be awarded on Nov. 1, and it will take about eight weeks from start to finish until that first cup of coffee can be served,” he said. “I’m hoping to expedite that, so that we have a week before for winter semester to do training and have everything organized.

“I know a Tim’s is important to students, staff, faculty and pretty much everyone else in Canada, but there’s so many layers to the business and coming to agreements that it takes time.”

Mount Royal students are saying they too are anxious to see the full-service Tim’s on campus, for more reasons than accessing the full menu.

“The food is good and cheap, perfect for a student like me,” said second-year psychology student Sarah Pickering. “MRU needs a Tim’s b

ecause it’s more than just a snack during the day.

“Their coffee gets me through midterms.”

“The only thing better than a Tim’s on campus would be a Tim’s on campus with a drive-thru,” she added.

Interior design student Megan Hergott said she visits the current campus Tim’s about three times a week, but will likely go to the new location more often.

“Hopefully the line-ups will be faster than they already are,” she said. “I think it will be a nice addition as it will offer other options bec

ause when you are here every single day, it’s nice to have a variety. Tim Hortons is also pretty cheap compared to all of the other options.”

Hergott added with enthusiasm, “It will be nice to have iced capps on campus.”

Mann said the new location will supply everything Tim Hortons offers, they will do all of their baking on site like any other store, and there will be three points of sale to hopefully serve students quicker.

“I have a lot of friends and colleagues here, I’m an alumni, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It is going to happen.

“Trust me, the grand opening will be grand and there will be a lot of free coffee.”

Mann mentioned he hopes to see all 700+ members of the “Petition to Improve Mount Royal University’s Tim Hortons” Facebo

ok page s

witch over to the new page they will be launching in the near future.

“I want to get everyone who is a member of the petition page to come across to our new page,” he said. “Everyone on that page will get a free coffee if they make the switch.”