Tim Hortons is Finally Coming to Guangzhou

By Ryan Gandolfo, January 8, 2021

Canadian donut and coffee chain Tim Hortons is set to open in Guangzhou’s Tee Mall early next month.

A representative from Tim Hortons told That’s that the tentative opening date for the city’s first location is February 9, with more stores expected to open in Guangzhou and around South China in the future.

The fast-food chain, commonly referred to as Timmies, is well known for iconic menu items such as bagel BELTs, ice capps, double-doubles, Timbits and more.

Breakfast sandwich. Image via @暴力那由他/Weibo

Donuts. Image via @西餐诺云/Weibo

In 2018, Tim Hortons announced a bold plan to open more than 1,500 restaurant locations in the Middle Kingdom over the next decade. The first China location opened in Shanghai in February 2019 to much excitement – people waited around two hours to get their hands on some donuts and coffee.

According to a company representative, Tim Hortons has opened over 130 stores in eight Chinese cities so far, including recent openings in Chongqing, Nanjing and Zhengzhou. (Yes, Zhengzhou opened a Timmies before Guangzhou…)

Tim Hortons fans in Nanjing. Image via @南京头条/Weibo

The company has accumulated over two million WeChat Mini App members and received a warm welcome from the Chinese market. One foreign national familiar with Timmies in Canada said that stores in China initially lacked some food items you’d expect to find in the Great White North. However, the company’s official WeChat account (Tims咖啡) is continually releasing new menu items, which is a good sign.

Founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario and named after a famed Canadian hockey player, Tim Hortons boasts over 5,000 shops worldwide, including the UK, Spain and Thailand.

Stay tuned to That’s for more updates on the Guangzhou opening (and the actual shop address), or roam around Tee Mall for the next month.

UPDATE (Tue January 19, 2021 4.20pm CST): A representative from Tim Hortons informed us that the Guangzhou location will now hold its tentative opening on February 9 instead of February 6.

[Cover image via @DJ飞飞哥/Weibo]