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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A job posting for full-time counter staff for a downtown Yellowknife Tim Hortons has reignited speculation that a franchise of the popular coffee chain is targeted to open in the city's core.

The Tim Hortons franchise on Old Airport Rd, shown here, might have company in the downtown area. Speculation that another Tim Hortons will be opening in downtown Yellowknife is now being supported by an online Tim Hortons employment recruiting campaign. - NNSL file photo

The public recruitment for employees is the strongest evidence to emerge from persistent rumours of a Tim Hortons opening downtown for some years, downtown coffee shop owners said.

"I've been hearing rumours like this for the past few years of Tim Hortons, Starbucks -- either one or the other was going to come," Javaroma Gourmet Coffee shop owner Fadil Memedi said.

Gourmet Cup owner Leslie Bromley said she has heard increasing speculation this summer of a Tim Hortons coming downtown, but is "pretty confident" that the chain will not land in the Yk Centre, where her coffee shop has occupied the lower level for the past five years.

"It's very unlikely they would be moving into my building," Bromley said. "Typically, you only have one type of business at a time -- one flower shop, one chocolatier."

The new Tim Hortons job posting on online NWT labour exchange Jobs North, is seeking 12 full-time counter staff for day, evening, and weekend afternoon shifts.

Jobs North records indicate the listing was submitted last Wednesday.

"Those things don't get set up overnight," executive director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Tim Doyle said, noting the downtown Tim Hortons posting indicates something is being planned. "I don't understand how they can hire if they don't have something set up," he said.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said no downtown applications have been made for Tim Hortons but it is not surprising for an employer to recruit up to a year in advance of opening in the city.

"Any company looking for employees in a city that has shortage of employees needs to plan ahead," Van Tighem said.

Franchise owners Greg and Deborah Barton, who took over the Old Airport Rd. Tim Hortons in 2001, did not respond to interview requests as of press time.

The contact accepting applications for the downtown Tim Hortons store, however, is the same e-mail listed for job postings for the established Old Airport Rd. Tim Hortons, belonging to the Bartons. In 2008, the existing Yk franchise had a total of 54 staff members, and was ranked number one in overall sales among the 3,100 Tim Hortons stores in Canada and the United States.

A franchise manager at Tim Hortons headquarters in Oakville, Ontario, would not confirm the location opening in downtown Yellowknife and told Yellowknifer that the company does not divulge locations where it is developing, for competitive reasons.

Several downtown locations have been rumoured to be where Tim Hortons might open, Memedi said, including across from the liquor store, and most recently, inside the Scotia Centre.

"As far as knowing for sure, my guess is as good as anybody else's," he said, adding he is taking the possibility of the rumours finally coming true, in stride. "I don't keep track of what Tim Hortons is doing, I have to keep track of my business," Memedi said. "They got their way of doing things, we got our way, so there's always room for somebody else."

While Memedi is open to the possibility of new competition downtown, Bromley said no matter where Tim Hortons ends up downtown, it will affect her business.

"Sure it's going to affect me, it's another coffee shop downtown," she said.

The closing date listed for applications to work at the downtown store is Nov. 30.

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