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Tim Hortons is a Canadian chain that started in Hamilton, Ontario, on May 17, 1964. It is now owned by Restaurant Brands International, based in Toronto. A 2026 report says the chain plans about 80 new restaurants in Canada, and our count puts Canada at about 3,900 restaurants this year.
Where Did Tim Hortons Start?
Hockey player Tim Horton opened the first coffee and doughnut shop in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1964, with Jim Charade. Former Hamilton police officer Ron Joyce became a full partner in 1967. After Horton's death in 1974, Joyce bought out Horton's widow in 1975 and became the sole owner. Our who owns Tim Hortons guide covers the ownership history in full.
How Did Tim Hortons Grow?
Wendy's International acquired Tim Hortons in 1995, which helped its expansion into the United States. The chain completed an initial public offering in March 2006 and was fully spun off as a separate company that September. In 2014, Burger King's parent merged with Tim Hortons to form Restaurant Brands International.
How Many Tim Hortons Are There?
There are about 3,900 Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada in 2026, according to our count. For a province-by-province breakdown, see how many Tim Hortons are in Canada. Wikipedia's latest dated Canadian figure is 3,802 restaurants as of December 31, 2018, which is older than our count. Its worldwide figures disagree with each other, so we use the company's own figures for totals.
What Is New for Tim Hortons in 2026?
A 2026 report says Tim Hortons is opening about 80 Canadian restaurants and focusing on cold beverages and loyalty. For the U.S. side of the business, see Tim Hortons in the U.S..
Where Is Tim Hortons Headquartered?
Tim Hortons' head office is at 130 King Street West in Toronto, Ontario. The brand moved its head office into Toronto's Exchange Tower in 2018. Some databases still list Oakville, which was the headquarters before that move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Tim Hortons founded?
In Hamilton, Ontario, on May 17, 1964, by Tim Horton and Jim Charade.
Who owns Tim Hortons?
Restaurant Brands International, a company headquartered in Toronto. See our ownership guide for the full chain.
How many Tim Hortons are in Canada?
About 3,900 in 2026, according to our count. The last dated Canadian figure from Wikipedia is 3,802 as of December 31, 2018.
How many Tim Hortons are in the world?
Wikipedia gives 6,043 restaurants in 14 countries without a date, and a dated figure of 5,702 as of August 2024. The company's own figure for Tim Hortons restaurants at June 30, 2026 is in our ownership guide.
Who founded Tim Hortons?
Hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade opened the first store in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1964.
When did Wendy's own Tim Hortons?
Wendy's International acquired Tim Hortons in 1995 and spun it off in 2006.
When did Tim Hortons go public?
It completed an initial public offering in March 2006.
Is Tim Hortons still Canadian?
It was founded in Canada and is headquartered in Toronto, while its parent company is a public corporation. See our ownership guide for details.
Is Tim Hortons opening new restaurants in Canada?
A 2026 report says the chain plans about 80 new Canadian restaurants.
Where is the Tim Hortons head office?
130 King Street West in Toronto, Ontario, in the Exchange Tower.
This is an independent guide, not affiliated with Tim Hortons or Restaurant Brands International. Restaurant counts come from different sources with different dates, which are shown in the text. The Canadian count is our own figure for 2026. See Sources.