Bring Tim Hortons to town, but skip the drive-thru

Mar 12, 2008

To the Editor:

Congratulations Burk’s Falls and Derek Miller on your successful negotiations with both Loblaws and Tim Hortons. I am already looking forward to the occasional decaf and a well-toasted 12-grain bagel.

I was pleased to read that the Tim Hortons store design is still “up in the air,” because it gives Burk’s Falls and Derek Miller an opportunity. That is, to insist that the new Tim Hortons outlet be as environmentally-friendly as possible. How can that be done?

Well, the easiest, least expensive and most beneficial way requires just one modification:
No drive-thru. Think of it. All customers, you and I, given equal time and service by the staff as we enter the store; traffic flow uninterrupted by vehicles blocking not only access to the store’s parking lot, but to the public roadway as well.

What a concept. Parking your vehicle, turning off the engine, walking to pick up your favourite treat. You may even enjoy a pleasant conversation with a friend, neighbour or tourist while waiting in line.

Please, Burk’s Falls and Derek Miller, be ahead of the curve. (There are a few other forward-thinking communities now trying to close their drive-thrus, or prevent them from opening in their neighbourhoods.) This one simple step would put Burk’s Falls and its new development on the map in a positive way, and serve as an example to other communities.

We all know that this Tim Hortons outlet will be a success.

Frank Shillolo
Burk’s Falls