New Tim Hortons for Strathmore

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

A new Tim Hortons restaurant is opening at the end of the month at 245 Edgefield Place, just north of Calgary Co-op.
The franchise sandwich and coffee shop will be the third location open in Strathmore. It will be officially open as of 6 a.m. on Jan. 30.
“Most of the new development is on this east end of town,” said owner and operator Kevin Korpi. “There is a new school and recreation centre being built as well as the new commercial and residential development, so this is where the new location needs to be.”
Korpi and his wife, Tracy Korpi, have been in this business for three and a half years. This is their third Tim Hortons location; they also own the Pine Road location and another location in Langdon.
“This will steal some business from our Pine Road location, there is no doubt about that. But because it will be more convenient to get to, it will attract new customers as well. It’s a great location, it won’t be as congested,” said Korpi. “A big part is convenience and speed of service. If you can go through the drive through and get out of here within three minutes with a coffee in hand, then people are more inclined to visit.”
According to Tracy Korpi, the Pine Road location is “busting at the seams.”
She added that by having a restaurant along westbound highway lanes as opposed to the eastbound highway lanes, people won’t have to cross the TransCanada Highway and leave the residential zones to grab lunch or a coffee.
The 2,500 sq. ft. building can hold up to 40 customers, and it features a newer design and features typical to that of newly designed Tim Hortons’ shops.
Along with a full menu and single lane drive through, the most unique design of the building is the theatre baking station. This is a counter space visible for customers to watch the baking process and see the donuts getting made, filled and dipped.
“The whole idea of it is the back area that customers can’t see is very small. Everything is up front so you can see everything that is going on,” said Korpi. “It’s kind of like a theatre show.”
The new Tim Hortons location is also creating jobs in the Town of Strathmore as 40 people have already been hired to work in the new location. It is also presenting the opportunity for employees to be promoted within the company: the new manager for the Edgefield location has been promoted from assistant manager at the Pine Road location, and the new assistant manager at Edgefield has been promoted from a supervisor at Pine Road.
There are still a few part time positions left to be filled; apply in-store at the Pine Road Tim Hortons.
Along with providing a desired service and jobs to the residents of Strathmore, having a third Tim Hortons restaurant will provide the opportunity for two more kids to go to Tim Hortons’ Children’s Camp every year.
“Every restaurant location sends two kids to camp every year. So by opening this location it means that six kids from Strathmore will get to go to children’s camp every year, and that’s really good,” said Korpi.
“We are excited to be here. The town has been so supportive of our business. It’s been a good run for us and we are excited to be expanding and to be providing another 40 jobs and to be promoting employees who have been with us for a while,” he added.