Tim Hortons is gradually gearing up for its debut on Queen West near the corner of Queen and Bathurst. Joining Starbucks at the once-maligned intersection, Canada's much loved donut chain takes over the space formerly home to the Queens Head Pub.

It's an odd move for the decidedly un-hip purveyor of chocolate glazes, honey crullers and Roll Up the Rim to Win coffee gimmicks; and one that I don't completely understand.

To suggest that the neighbourhood needs a Tim Hortons would be a bit of a stretch. There's already good cheap coffee across the street at Artistic Grounds; and plenty of alternatives at the nearby Niche, Greenavi and Tequila Bookworm. Even for commuters, their Timbits and coffee can be had inside a Shell station on the way to the DVP at King and Strachan.

What's also uncertain is what this move might foreshadow for this transitional stretch on Queen. Its neighbours - Pizza Pizza and the Pita Pit - don't exactly scream "Art + Design District" and one would think that Cosmos West Records is wondering how it ended up with such a neighbour. Rotate This knew what was coming when they packed up and moved west earlier this year.

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