Tim Hortons now open at Mall of America

A new go kart/gaming space and a Sugarfina candy store also are planned.

November 16, 2016 at 3:46PM
A Tim Hortons' coffee cup is seen in New York, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The Canadian doughnut chain moved into 12 former Dunkin Donut locations earlier in the month, bringing new blood to the doughnut war in America's most competitive market. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Headline In addition to its new location at the Mall of America, Tim Hortons is opening stores in Dinkytown later this month and in Brooklyn Park early next year. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Can't wait another day for a Tim Hortons doughnut and coffee? Canada's popular Tim Hortons restaurant chain opened quietly at the Mall of America last week.

It's one of several additions at the Bloomington megamall. On Monday, the mall said SMAAASH, a 40,000-square-foot entertainment space will open Dec. 14 on its fourth floor. It will feature a multilevel go kart track and more than 30 gaming experiences, including some with a virtual reality component.

The concept is run by an Indian company and will be its first overseas venture, to be followed by openings in Dubai and Europe. It also will feature food and drinks with a locally sourced menu and more than 40 types of craft beer and specialty cocktails.

The mall also is getting a 250-square-foot Sugarfina store, a fairly young candy boutique that has been expanding across the U.S. This will be its first shop in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Zara and Debut, a new concept featuring various boutique brands such as Askov Finlayson, are opening Wednesday in the mall's new north wing.

The grand opening for Tim Hortons, on the east side of the second floor, near the rotunda, will be on Thursday.

Fifty early bird guests will receive $25 Tim Hortons gift cards and a 10-pack of Timbits doughnut holes after the 11 a.m. Thursday ribbon cutting.

A location is expected to open later this month at 319 14th Av. SE in Minneapolis' Dinkytown and another at 8500 Xylon Av. N in Brooklyn Park is planned for early next year. Restaurant Development Partners in Bloomington is partnering with Restaurant Brands International as the developer and representative for Tim Hortons in Minnesota.

The all-day restaurant chain has more than 3,600 outlets in Canada and about 800 in the U.S., including one in Mahnomen. The two locations in Tower, Minn., closed in September. New locations in International Falls and Brainerd are being built.

Tim Hortons was started in the 1960s by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton. He spent 24 years in the NHL, mainly with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He died in 1974.

In the 1990s, the company briefly operated a Tim Hortons and Wendy's combination restaurant in Hopkins.

Includes reporting by staff writer Kavita Kumar.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633

about the writer

about the writer

John Ewoldt

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John Ewoldt is a business reporter for the Star Tribune. He writes about small and large retailers including supermarkets, restaurants, consumer issues and trends, and personal finance.  

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