Were you just starting to take a liking to Timbits, the Canadian version of Dunkin donut's Munchkins?
You may have to take a road trip to buy them now.
Tim Hortons, the doughnut and coffee chain with a store on almost every corner in the Great White North, has suddenly closed all four of its Cincinnati-area locations.
On Tuesday morning, no one was answering the phones at its restaurants in Erlanger, Amelia, Colerain Township, and Corryville.
The Oxford, Ohio location at Miami University, which just opened this past December, also was not answering the phone.
WCPO attempted to speak with the local franchise operator, Qsr7 Ventures in Blue Ash, but someone who answered the phone told us they have no comment.
Slow business or other problems?
The Canadian parent company, Tim Hortons, has seen slowing salesfor several years, according to Reuters. It also is facing lawsuits from several operators alleging mismanagement, Reuters says.
Earlier this year, Tim Hortons closed its one Indianapolis location, according to the Indy Star, though that was owned by a different franchiser than the Cincinnati stores.
The restaurant faced tough competition from hometown favorites Busken and Servatti, as well as from an ever-expanding Dunkin Donuts.
The company's media relations department in Canada sent us this brief statement:
"We have mutually agreed with the Franchisee in this market to de-brand a small number of restaurants. We remain committed to growing our brand in the U.S. and look forward to serving our guests our premium coffee and high quality food offerings."
The good news is that Tim Hortons coffee is still available in other parts of Ohio, in many grocery stores, and in Keurig K-Cup pods,
At least one Cincinnati-area restaurant remains open, in Maineville, in Warren County, which is owned by a central Ohio franchise.
Several Tim Hortons remain open in Columbus, Ohio, as well.
And if you happening to be traveling to Toronto, you'll have no problem finding a location, as it still has 4,000 restaurants in Canada. While you are there, you could pick up some poutine, another Canadian specialty tough to find in Cincinnati.
As always, don't waste your money.
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