Still waiting for new Tim Hortons

Brent Mann, Sodexo's general manager at MRU, jokingly wields a pickaxe in the soon-to-be new Tim Hortons' bakery. Mann attributed construction delays to a lengthy legal process. Photo: Bryan Weismiller

It’s been one of the most talked about issues among the student population and the subject of Facebook petitions and hallway conversations alike.

So when word got out that construction was underway to make the full-service on-campus Tim Hortons a reality after winter break, people were excited.

However, anyone who recently ventured down Main Street looking to satisfy their craving for a Tim’s sandwich or warm bowl of soup was in for an unpleasant surprise. The same old construction site remains where a shiny new Tim Hortons was supposed to be.

Alyssa Hartwell, a third-year sociology major, passes by the construction zone everyday on her way to class and believes developments are long overdue.

“I’m very disappointed that it isn’t open yet and I think students may deserve an explanation why,” Hartwell said.

Though that thought has likely crossed many people’s minds, the answer everyone’s looking for may not be quite so straightforward.

Developing the new-and-improved Tim Hortons involves multiple large organizations, including Mount Royal University and Sodexo, the on-campus food services company.

According to Brent Mann, Sodexo general manager, the delay can be attributed to the lengthy legal process involved in making the half-million-dollar project come together.

“The turnover isn’t what you and I might turn a document over in, it’s weeks and can lead to months. It was just dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s to make sure that everyone is protected.”

However, Mann said that, despite the setbacks, the successful completion of this project is and has always been the goal.

“Everyone’s worked extremely hard and done their absolute best,” Mann said. “There is no-one I have ever sat in a room with working on this project who has had any other intention than to build this store.”

And, by the sounds of things, the store will definitely be worth the wait.

“People can get their iced capps and we’ll have the sandwiches and the full bakery line,” Mann said.

The new Tim Hortons will also finally have a debit machine.

Fadwa Khourieh, a third-year student in the business administration program, said knowing that she no longer has to rely on cash will make a big difference for her and many other students.

“I make my choice on whether or not to go to Tim Hortons based mainly on whether I have cash on me or if I would have to make a stop at the ATM. So, accepting debit would make going to Tim Hortons an easier decision for me.”

But could a more varied menu and a few new debit machines solve all our Timmies problems? Mann said that despite all these new improvements there is one inevitable problem that might remain.

“The issue’s always been the line-ups but I’m not sure they’re going to be any shorter, I think there’s going to be more of them because we’ll have three points of sale, but I’ve got a feeling they’re going to be just as long,” he said.

However, despite long line-ups, there is no doubt that the new Tim Hortons will be a hit among students, staff and faculty alike.

Mann said current forecasts indicate that things are looking very promising right now for this development with the grand opening scheduled to take place when students return from reading break.

Regardless of what lies ahead for the construction, no matter how long it takes, all will be forgiven when that first sandwich and iced capp are served.