It is obvious by the amount of Tim Hortons locations across Canada that it is an extremely popular and succesfull franchise.
Today that franchise celebrates 20 years in Prince Albert.
On May 7, 1992 customers were served for the first time at the Tim Hortons located by the South Hill Mall on 3223 2nd Avenue West.
Since that grand opening three more Tim Hortons have been built in the city.
Ed Zaparaniuk, owner of the first location and others in the city says since he got involved with the chain and opened his first store in Prince Albert he has definitely witnessed it grow not only at his locations in Prince Albert but across the province and the country.
“When we started in 92 we (Tim Hortons) were just a little over 500 stores in 1992 in Canada and as of today I believe there is 4300 stores in Canada, so we are growing well and growing fast,” said Zaparaniuk.
“And I have to say in the last year we (Tim Hortons) opened 10 stores in Saskatchewan and we have never done that before so our province is booming. We usually open one or two stores a year last year we opened 10.”
Once Zaparaniuk’s first Tim Hortons got its feet on the ground he spared no time to get another franchise site in the city and in 1998 the second store was built on the corner of 2nd Avenue West and 15th Street. Except unlike the first location it had a drive through.
“It took off fast and it did very well right away, where as my first location was just a walk in store,” said Zaparaniuk. “So we do very well on drive through stores, but in 92 drive throughs were no big thing.”
The third franchise on Cornerstone also owned by Zaparaniuk went up in 2000. The fourth and last addition on Marquis Road, which is run by Zaparaniuk’s daughter Cheryl Sanders opened its doors in September of 2011.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the coffee and donut chain in Prince Albert free cake and coffee will be handed out at 3 p.m. at the 3223 2nd Ave West location near the South Hill Mall.
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