China's First Tim Hortons Opens to Massive 2-Hour Line

By Ruth Ilott, February 26, 2019

2 0

Tim Hortons, Canada's favorite coffee and donut chain, officially opened the first Chinese branch of Tims Coffee House in Shanghai today at the Central Plaza on Huangpi Bei Lu near People’s Square. 

Security, as well as many red-jacketed Tim Hortons employees, were outside the store to keep the line behind the barriers. The line snaked around the side of the building and started inside a lobby at the back, where a sign stated it would be a two-hour long wait. 

tims-line.jpg
Image by Ruth Ilott/That's 

tims-sign.jpg
Image by Ruth Ilott/That's

When we visited at 3pm this afternoon, the line was stationary as people were only allowed in small lots replacing departing patrons as they finished their meals. 

pjimage-15-.jpg
Images via Dianping

Once inside, the reward for waiting are iconic Timmie’s items such as bagel BELTS, ice capps, double-doubles, Timbits and more. The bite-sized fried balls of dough come in two Chinese flavors (in addition to more traditional varieties): salted egg yolk and zang zang (like the ‘dirty’ chocolate-covered buns that swept social media last year).  

This is the first store out of planned 1,500 branches that are to open in China over the next decade. The Shanghai location is Tim Hortons’ 4,850th store.

Watch below (VPN off): 

Additional reporting by Cristina Ng. 


See listing for Tims Coffee House. Read more Shanghai Food & Drink News

more news

Shanghai Food & Drink Gossip: September 2024

Your monthly serving of tasty F&B gossip tidbits

Shanghai Food & Drink Gossip: August 2024

Your monthly serving of tasty F&B gossip tidbits

Shanghai Food & Drink Gossip: June 2024

Your monthly serving of tasty F&B gossip tidbits.

Shanghai Food & Drink Gossip: July 2024

Your monthly serving of tasty F&B gossip tidbits

Shanghai Food & Drink Gossip: April 2024

Your monthly serving of tasty F&B gossip tidbits.

All the Bing: A Guide to China's Favorite Street Food

From breakfast food to all-day snack.

0 User Comments

In Case You Missed It…

We're on WeChat!

Scan our QR Code at right or follow us at Thats_Shanghai for events, guides, giveaways and much more!

7 Days in Shanghai With thatsmags.com

Weekly updates to your email inbox every Wednesday

Download previous issues

Never miss an issue of That's Shanghai!

Visit the archives