Yahoo Finance Tim Hortons to open 1,000 patios across Canada by early July
Tim Hortons will open 1,000 patios at restaurants across the country by early July as the company reopens locations amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Mike Hancock, Tim Hortons chief operating officer, said in a statement Monday that the coffee and doughnut chain will reopen more than 350 existing patios in Ontario and has plans to “significantly expand” the number of outdoor seating areas at its restaurants across Canada.
The announcement comes after Ontario unveiled additional details of the second phase of reopening the economy. Starting Friday, many regions across the province will be permitted to open outdoor dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other establishments, including patios, curbside, parking lots and adjacent properties.
“Tim Hortons is ready to welcome guests back to our patios and we are quickly expanding the number of patios we offer across Canada,” Hancock said in a statement.
“Overall, we are planning to open upwards of 1,000 new patios across Canada by transforming existing outdoor spaces to allow our guests and their friends and families to sit and enjoy their Tim Hortons favourites outside our restaurants.”
The company said it will work with local municipalities to convert existing outdoor areas, under-utilized parking spaces or blocked off laneways into new patio areas. Renderings provided by Tim Hortons show outdoor seating areas where parking spots previously were.
Restaurant Brands International (QSR), the parent company of Tim Hortons, said in late May that comparable sales at the coffee and doughnut chain recovered from declines of more than 40 per cent in March to a drop of approximately mid-20 per cent, thanks to growing drive-thru and delivery demand.
The company has also been gradually reopening sit-down dining rooms, which accounted for 40 per cent of sales in pre-pandemic times. Approximately 500 Tim Hortons dining rooms had been reopened as of the end of May.
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