Tim Hortons has signed leases for two new Center City Philadelphia cafes, planting its flag at 1517 Chestnut Street and 1900 Market Street as the Canadian coffee and doughnut chain pushes deeper into the city. One of the two spaces was previously leased by Starbucks, giving the new arrival a foothold in a block with pedestrian activity.
According to srdre.com, the Chestnut Street location will sit within the heart of the city's established retail and dining district, while the Market Street spot is designed to serve the growing residential and daytime populations along one of Philadelphia's primary business corridors. The Starbucks swap detail comes from the Philadelphia Business Journal, which reported that one of the Tim Hortons cafes will occupy space previously leased by the rival chain. As 6abc Philadelphia reported, the two sites sit near 15th and Chestnut Streets and 19th and Market Streets, respectively.
A Brand Built on Coffee, Timbits and Breakfast
Tim Hortons is known for its coffee, baked goods, breakfast offerings, sandwiches and Timbits, the chain's signature bite-sized doughnut holes, per the same srdre.com report. The brand has leaned on that familiar lineup as it pushes into new U.S. markets well beyond its Canadian roots.
Location counts for the chain vary depending on the source. Glenside Local reports Tim Hortons has more than 3,000 stores across North America and more than 640 locations spread across several Eastern and Central United States states, citing figures from glensidelocal.com. Inc. magazine, meanwhile, put the U.S. total at nearly 700 locations, while srdre.com has separately cited a worldwide count approaching 5,000 locations — figures that cover different geographic scopes.
Philadelphia Named a Priority Growth Market
The two new leases are part of a broader push rather than a one-off bet on Center City. Tim Hortons continues to evaluate additional locations throughout Philadelphia, considering urban inline, end-cap, standard-shop and freestanding restaurant formats, according to srdre.com. The company has also named Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a priority growth market as it looks for additional sites and development partners.
That ambition has been building for a while. A 2025 QSR report said Tim Hortons planned to set down roots in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and San Antonio as part of a larger U.S. expansion, while Glenside Local noted in a December 2023 article that the Philadelphia area was expected to become a bigger focus for the chain in 2024. By the time that report published, the franchise had already begun opening locations in South Jersey and Delaware, and the Philadelphia Business Journal separately reported in December 2023 that Tim Hortons had signed a multi-unit deal for its first stores in Delaware.
Joining a Busy Year for Center City Retail
The new cafes land amid a wave of retail activity downtown. Nearly 50 new businesses had opened in Center City so far in 2026, making Tim Hortons just the latest brand betting on the neighborhood's foot traffic.
For anyone eyeing the brand from the other side of the counter, Glenside Local reports that a Tim Hortons franchise fee starts at $50,000 for a 20-year term, with a 6% royalty fee and a 4% advertising fee layered on top. Exact details on lease terms, square footage or an opening timeline for the two Center City cafes have not been disclosed.
