Original Tim Hortons to be rebuilt, expanded

The coffee shop that baked and brewed its way into Canadian culture is getting a facelift.

Tim Hortons has come along way since it’s opening 50 years ago at the corner of Ottawa and Dunsmuir in hamilton.

Thursday the chain announced plans to re-vamp the first location to celebrate it’s past and prepare for the future.

Other than a plaque on a wall, there are very few indicators that the Ottawa location is the first brought to life by a former Hamilton police officer and an NHL star.

Chief Operating Officer David Clanachan says the revamp will be futuristic looking but also pay homage to the past.

Plans include two patio’s, another storey and a 4000 square foot expansion. The franchise bought two of the houses next door to make the expansion possible.

Clanachan says the second floor will make for a memorable visit.

“So we’re actually building a kind of a walk down memory lane, if you want to call it on the second floor so you could literally travel through time… the 60’s, the 70’s, the 90’s and 2000’s”

Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina says it is another sign of a city on it’s way up.

“To have this 50th anniversary, put a new face on the old store shows that they respect the past and they’re building for the future and that’s what we need to do as a city.”

Construction will begin almost right away for a projected completion by the end of this year. Meanwhile Tim’s has announced they will be holding a block party in the coming weeks for residents in the area to celebrate the history in their backyard.