Hi friends, and thanks for stopping by to read Late Nights, Cheap Donuts, and Lost Warmth: Remembering Tim Hortons in the 1980s.
In the 1980s, Tim Hortons was still a small chain in British Columbia. The closest one to me was in Langley, and though it’s long gone, I can still picture myself there, bleary-eyed after finishing one of my two (sometimes three) jobs. Money was tight, life was hectic, and Tim Hortons – open 24 hours – was always there for a late-night coffee and a sweet treat.
My favourite was the Walnut Crunch – like a chocolate brownie dressed up as a donut, with that shiny sugar glaze on top. I also loved their eclairs and, in the summer, strawberry tarts. Back then, Tim Hortons had more variety: a small selection of bakery items beyond the donuts, muffins, and bagels you see today. They even baked in-house, with actual bakers working in the back, not just thawing and finishing frozen dough shipped in from a factory.
Here’s my personal memoir of late-night visits to Tim Hortons in the 1980s. Back when the Walnut Crunch, strawberry tarts, and in-house baking made it special. From Wendy’s mergers to Burger King ownership, international expansion, and even a troubling Vancouver incident, here’s how Tim Hortons has changed from a Canadian icon to a global brand. And why I don’t visit as often today.
Donuts on a budget
One thing about Tim Hortons that hasn’t changed is the price. Their donuts have always been among the cheapest you can buy. Of course, that comes with a trade-off. Tim Hortons donuts aren’t in the same league as what you’ll find at independent bakeries. Recently I had a Boston cream donut at Steiner Bakery, in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, and I’d say it was hands-down the best Boston cream I’ve ever tasted. Rich, creamy, and fresh in a way Tim Hortons just can’t match. Still, there’s something comforting about knowing you can walk into a Tim Hortons almost anywhere in Canada and grab a Boston cream for pocket change.
Sticking with the budget theme, I bought donut pans and learned to bake my own chocolate peanut butter donuts. Yup, baked not fried. And slightly healthier.
When “Canadian” isn’t quite Canadian
Of course, Tim Hortons isn’t really Canadian-owned anymore. It started in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, founded by NHL player Tim Horton and his partner Ron Joyce. In 1995, Wendy’s bought the chain, and later spun it off. Then in 2014, it was snapped up by the same holding company that owns Burger King and Popeyes – Restaurant Brands International. So while many of us still think of Tim Hortons as a piece of Canadiana, the truth is, it hasn’t been Canadian for decades.
Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Wendy’s owned Tim Hortons, many locations were built large enough for both franchises to operate under one roof. You could order a burger at Wendy’s, then step over and grab a donut at Tim Hortons, all in the same building. It was a strange pairing, and in a way, they ended up competing with each other once Tim Hortons expanded its menu to include sandwiches and soups. You don’t see as many of these combo stores now, but they still exist in some places.
Changing faces behind the Tim Hortons counter
When I was younger, Tim Hortons was often staffed by older women who knew their customers and gave the place a welcoming feel. Today, with rising minimum wages and staffing shortages, many locations rely on temporary foreign workers. Some are lovely, but others don’t speak much English, and the atmosphere can feel less friendly. It’s just another way Tim Hortons has shifted over the years.
When kindness was replaced with indifference
I’ll never forget the moment that dramatically changed how I feel about Tim Hortons.
In 2015, news broke of a distressing incident in downtown Vancouver: a Tim Hortons manager – or possibly a franchise owner – tipped a bucket of water onto a sleeping homeless man, his dog, and all his belongings, outside the Robson Street location.
That image stayed with me.
Public outrage followed swiftly. Tim Hortons issued a formal apology, calling the act “regretful” and “not reflective” of their values. The owner supposedly pledged to apologize personally to the man and to donate to Belkin House, a nearby shelter. They promised an internal investigation, but I never saw any follow-up confirming whether apologies were delivered, donations were made, or the employee faced consequences.
That incident didn’t just make headlines – it hit me personally. It felt like the ultimate rejection of compassion, especially from a place that once meant warmth and community to me. To this day, I think about how a simple gesture – offering a cup of coffee rather than dumping water – could have made all the difference. That moment definitely dampened my enthusiasm to visit Tim Hortons. The few times I now do go, it’s usually just to pick up a treat for someone else.
Tim Hortons abroad
What really surprised me was seeing Tim Hortons overseas. In 2023, I spotted one in Madrid, Spain.
See? There it is! In a block of old buildings in this historic city – scrunched in beside a Little Caesar’s pizza shop. Can you see where it says “Canadian Coffee House”? Yup, in a country where English is not the official language. And a part of the world where you’d be hard pressed to find locals who can speak English.
Then in 2024, I found myself ordering an Iced Capp with coconut milk in Manchester, England, on a sweltering July afternoon.
It was oddly comforting and oddly strange. A familiar Canadian coffee shop, thousands of miles from home.
And I’ve got one more for you. Below is a Tim Hortons in Glasgow, Scotland. I went inside to see if they had a Boston Cream Donut. They did not. I walked out again, donut-less.
Tim Hortons these days
I don’t visit Tim Hortons often anymore, except sometimes through the Too Good To Go app. This is where a $5 “surprise box” gives me a bag full of donuts and muffins.
It’s not the same as biting into a Walnut Crunch after a long night shift, but it’s still a little reminder of the role Tim Hortons has played in my life.
It may not be the bakery it once was, and it’s certainly not “Canadian” in the way we like to think. But for me, Tim Hortons will always be part of my personal history, one late-night coffee and one Walnut Crunch at a time.
Do you have any memories you’d like to share about Tim Hortons? Then and now? Lay it on me! Leave a comment below.
Published by Cheryl @ The Lifestyle Digs on January 29, 2026.
