Unofficial fan guide - not affiliated with Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons opened its first store on May 17, 1964, in Hamilton, Ontario. Hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade founded the company. It was sold to Wendy's in 1995 and became part of Restaurant Brands International in 2014.
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Tim Hortons opened its first store on May 17, 1964, in Hamilton, Ontario. Hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade founded the company. It was sold to Wendy's in 1995 and became part of Restaurant Brands International in 2014.
The first donut store opened on May 17, 1964, in Hamilton, Ontario. Tim Horton (1930 to 1974) was a Canadian ice hockey player. Wikipedia credits the founding to Horton and Jim Charade (1934 to 2009).
Horton died in 1974. Ron Joyce, who had become a partner in the business, bought out the Horton family's shares for $1 million and became sole owner. At that point the chain had 40 stores. Other accounts of the buyout give a different price and year, so treat these details as Wikipedia's version.
Timbits were introduced in April 1976, according to Wikipedia's Timbits article.
Wendy's International acquired TDL Group, the parent company of Tim Hortons, on August 8, 1995.
On December 15, 2014, Tim Hortons became a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International, a Toronto-based holding company.
Restaurant Brands International reported 4,570 Tim Hortons restaurants in the U.S. and Canada on June 30, 2026, up from 4,521 a year earlier. RBI does not publish a worldwide count for Tim Hortons. For the sources behind the different totals, see our worldwide store count guide. For the ownership story owner by owner, see who owns Tim Hortons.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1964 | First store opens in Hamilton, Ontario, on May 17 |
| 1974 | Tim Horton dies; Ron Joyce buys out the Horton family's shares |
| 1976 | Timbits introduced (April) |
| 1995 | Wendy's acquires TDL Group, August 8 |
| 2014 | Becomes part of Restaurant Brands International, December 15 |
| 2026 | RBI reports 4,570 Tim Hortons restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, June 30 |
Tim Horton and Jim Charade founded the company. The first store opened in Hamilton, Ontario, on May 17, 1964.
The first store opened on May 17, 1964, in Hamilton, Ontario.
Wikipedia lists Jim Charade (1934 to 2009) as a co-founder.
No. Wendy's acquired the parent company in 1995. Since December 15, 2014, Tim Hortons has been part of Restaurant Brands International.
Restaurant Brands International owns Tim Hortons. RBI is a Toronto-based holding company.
Ron Joyce was a partner in Tim Hortons who became its sole owner after Tim Horton died in 1974. He bought out the Horton family's shares for $1 million, according to Wikipedia.
Timbits were introduced in April 1976, according to Wikipedia.
RBI reported 4,570 Tim Hortons restaurants in the U.S. and Canada on June 30, 2026. RBI does not publish a worldwide Tim Hortons count.
Tim Horton died in 1974, according to Wikipedia's dates for him (1930 to 1974).
Tim Hortons became a subsidiary of RBI on December 15, 2014.
This is an independent guide, not affiliated with Tim Hortons or Restaurant Brands International. Figures come from the sources named in the text. Check the official Tim Hortons site or app before you act.