DONUT WARS: Tim Horton’s to open 10 Dayton-area shops, challenge Dunkin’

Tim Hortons has new restaurants in the works in Moraine, Riverside and Troy as part of an aggressive expansion that could bring as many as 10 new locations over the next three years and pose a challenge to competitor Dunkin’ Donuts.

“Tim Hortons is a solid brand … it attracts customers in all times of the day,” said Tabbassum Mumtaz, CEO of Ampex Brands, the restaurant chain’s Ohio franchisee. And the Dayton area “is the market where we wanted to build the brand,” Mumtaz said.

The CEO said his company is “looking forward to competing with Dunkin’ Donuts” in the Miami Valley. Dunkin’ Donuts is in the midst of its own aggressive expansion in the region.

Plans call for adding seven to 10 total new Tim Hortons restaurants in the Dayton region over the next three years, Mumtaz said. The three new locations already in development include:

• 3010 Kettering Blvd. in Moraine — construction is underway at the site of a former KFC chicken restaurant. This location will be slightly smaller than most Tim Hortons at about 1,600 square feet, with seating for 22 inside and another 12 on a patio, and a drive-through. The restaurant could open before the end of December, Mumtaz said.

• 1998 W. Main St. in Troy — with a projected seating capacity of 28 inside and another 12 on a patio, this location also could open by the end of the year on a tract that previously housed a Sonic Drive-In.

• 1975 Harshman Road in Riverside — plans call for demolishing a former Pizza Hut starting in late December, with a projected opening by the end of February, depending on weather.

Each new Tim Hortons will hire 30 to 35 employees, Mumtaz said.

Texas-based Ampex Brands operates several other franchise restaurants, including Long John Silver’s, Taco Bell, A&W Restaurants and KFC restaurants, in 17 states. It is also expanding the Tim Hortons footprint in the Columbus and central Ohio area.

Jim Liguori, chief development officer for Ampex Brands, praised the Dayton area’s solid customer base and the region’s stability provided by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the region’s university system.

Dunkin’ Donuts has opened five Dayton-area restaurants in the last three years under franchise owner Pat Gilligan, including, last month, a location on Woodman Drive in Riverside. Other new Dunkin’ Donuts shops have opened in Sugarcreek Twp., Springfield, Kettering, and Centerville. Gilligan told this news outlet in February that he plans to open two Dunkin’ Donuts a year beyond this year in the Dayton region.

RELATED: Tim Hortons coming to busy Kettering-Moraine intersection

About the Author