By KATHY M. CONNOR
Guest columnist
It’s the talk of the town – Tim Hortons has returned. Not the legendary hockey player, but the beloved coffee and donut stop in Morristown along the Massena-Ogdensburg-Watertown transportation corridor.
In October 2021, the reliable Parkway Express convenience store on State Route 37 closed after a pick-up truck towing a race car crashed into a power pole and the building, causing it to burn down. Through a minor miracle, two employees in the store and four passengers in the truck escaped electrocution and the subsequent fire.
It was a veritable catastrophe on many fronts:
· Local and seasonal folks relied on the gas pumps for their cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, RVs, lawnmowers, snowmobiles and boats.
· The convenience store and Subway sandwich shop were vastly popular with travelers and local workers.
· The Tim Hortons coffee stop was a community hub for the morning gab sessions of locals to get out and socialize, not to mention a needed caffeine refresher for tourists and others transiting through the North Country.
The Canada-based franchises are familiar to Northern and Central New Yorkers. New York State has close to 270 Tim Hortons locations, about 40 percent of the total within the United States. Small wonder given crossborder travel and appreciation of the early morning magic of caffeine and sugar. How many crossborder hockey parents opened their bleary eyes when the steam from the cuppa hit their faces? How many children have eagerly ingested sugary powder from donuts? Over more recent years, young college students from Buffalo to Syracuse have enjoyed iced lattes and many other variations from the original Tim Hortons menu.
As an undergraduate college student in Waterloo, Ontario, I was introduced to Tim Hortons donuts by my roommate in the women’s residence. This was circa 1976, and Tim Hortons had been established 12 years earlier by hockey player and entrepreneur Tim Horton (Hockey Hall of Fame class of 1977).
“Timmies” was a favorite study break, and it was conveniently located right across the street from our residence hall. My choice was the hefty apple fritter. Circa 1976, I could eat any number of donuts and not gain weight.
If you followed hockey in the 1970s, you would know that Tim Horton turned pro with the Toronto Maple Leafs farm team, the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League. The defenseman’s first NHL game was in 1950. He won four Stanley Cups with the Leafs over 19 seasons, then played for the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. He was a reliable and effective enforcer and puck carrier who appeared in seven All-Star games. In 1970, Horton was traded to the New York Rangers, and in the 1971-72 season went to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The next year, at age 42, and near-sighted, he was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres. Sadly, Horton died in a car crash at age 44, but his 10-year-old donut empire was booming.
The first Tim Hortons was established in Hamilton, Ontario. By 1968, it had grown into a multi-million dollar industry, quite an achievement for that time. Upon his death, his partner Ron Joyce bought out the family shares. But the chain’s name remained Tim Hortons in honor of the hockey player-entrepreneur. This success story is a testament to the power of ice hockey and donuts, apparently an unbeatable combination.
Upon visiting the reincarnation of the Route 37 gas bar/convenience store/restaurant, you can enjoy the spacious seating area as you sip your cuppa and munch on your donut. Unfortunately, my metabolism now requires me to confine myself to one Timbit. Bye bye apple fritters and other delectable varieties.
Featured in the décor of the new space is a mural of Mr. Horton playing hockey with a brief description of his career. You’ll find several Canadian scenes to provide that bit of authenticity and a nod to the Canadian origins of the chain. These are thoughtful touches that our Canadian neighbors traveling through will appreciate, I’m sure, making them feel more at home and that Tim’s Canadian origins are acknowledged. It’s also great as cross-border cultural education, and acknowledges our ties to our northern neighbors along the St. Lawrence River.
If you have been to the Tim Hortons in Syracuse, you will find a lovely seating area complete with a gas fireplace. Several stores within Ontario also feature fireplaces, making for a cozy winter’s day stop for hot chocolate.
It’s sure great to have our Tim Horton’ back, for coffee, gas, and conversation. Yes, it’s the talk of the town – so see you there soon!
Guest columnist Kathy M. Connor of Morristown holds a doctorate in English from the University of Ottawa.
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