Tim Hortons entering Houston market

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

That’s not stopping the consistently long lines there so what’s your point

There's only 3 suburban locations (west of I-45, outside BW-8) right now serving a market of 7 million people. The other Texas metros have restaurants all around their towns.

Also Houston is a very tough crowd to please. There are plenty of mom-and-pop strip mall burger joints with tastier burgers and a better value for the money. The In-N-Out sourdough buns are pretty tasteless and the crumb/texture doesn't resemble bread! It tastes and feels more like paper, similar to McDonald's chicken nuggets.

Not serving breakfast and limited options (notably the absence of coffee) is also hampering their appeal. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Jack in the Box, and *Whataburger* have much broader options!

[SanJac]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

There's only 3 suburban locations (west of I-45, outside BW-8) right now serving a market of 7 million people. The other Texas metros have restaurants all around their towns.

Also Houston is a very tough crowd to please. There are plenty of mom-and-pop strip mall burger joints with tastier burgers and a better value for the money. The In-N-Out sourdough buns are pretty tasteless and the crumb/texture doesn't resemble bread! It tastes and feels more like paper, similar to McDonald's chicken nuggets.

Not serving breakfast and limited options (notably the absence of coffee) is also hampering their appeal. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Jack in the Box, and *Whataburger* have much broader options!

Krispy Kreme was the rage when it first came to Houston. I agree that Houston is a tough market for restaurants.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

There's only 3 suburban locations (west of I-45, outside BW-8) right now serving a market of 7 million people. The other Texas metros have restaurants all around their towns.

Also Houston is a very tough crowd to please. There are plenty of mom-and-pop strip mall burger joints with tastier burgers and a better value for the money. The In-N-Out sourdough buns are pretty tasteless and the crumb/texture doesn't resemble bread! It tastes and feels more like paper, similar to McDonald's chicken nuggets.

Not serving breakfast and limited options (notably the absence of coffee) is also hampering their appeal. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Jack in the Box, and *Whataburger* have much broader options!

There’s a fourth one under construction and again, you can list every excuse you want with “being suburban” etc and those lines are In N out are still extremely long so it’s not changing anything. There will be a fifth sixth seventh and eighth location at some point. Other Texas cities having more is 1. Because they expanded there first and 2. Because they’re more west. And those two things are related to eachother. Brands expanding in the suburbs before getting into the city isn’t specific to Houston either. That’s common everywhere. It’s the easiest way to tap into any market. The things you mention about “better options in the city limits (which btw also isn’t specific to Houston)” may have some effect but the much bigger reason for the suburban entrances have to do with real estate and growth trends.

I’m getting elitism vibes here. Houston food is great but it’s not the only good food city in the states

[Oskar_Z28]

I've been to Tim Hortons in Canada. I may visit once or twice for novelty, but that's it. I went couple times to in-n-out too, again for novelty, but deferred back to my standard local burger joints.

[Raider Scott]

The burger market was pretty saturated in Houston when In and Out showed up.


The coffee market is equally saturated in Houston with Starbucks everywhere and lots of local independent offerings. Horton's would need to bring something different to the market to be a big hit.

[Natnasci]

Originally Posted by Oskar_Z28

I've been to Tim Hortons in Canada. I may visit once or twice for novelty, but that's it. I went couple times to in-n-out too, again for novelty, but deferred back to my standard local burger joints.

I'm not a Tim Horton's fan. I find their doughnuts to be air-filled dough. Sandwiches bland etc. We joke that Tim Horton's makes the food soft so older people can chew it. They aren't Canadian owned anymore, and some say since then the quality has suffered. Much better doughnut shops around.

As for In-N-Out Burgers, I've had a few over the years. The first time many years ago, I thought they were good. The last time, was my last time. Much better burger shops around.

It's so easy to fall back on chains, thinking you know what to expect, but seeking out smaller places ( which with the internet is easier to do ) can be very rewarding. They might be a bit more expensive, but are usually made by someone who cares what they are making, are healthier ( look at ingredient lists for some large chains ) and better tasting.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Natnasci

I'm not a Tim Horton's fan. I find their doughnuts to be air-filled dough. Sandwiches bland etc. We joke that Tim Horton's makes the food soft so older people can chew it. They aren't Canadian owned anymore, and some say since then the quality has suffered. Much better doughnut shops around.

As for In-N-Out Burgers, I've had a few over the years. The first time many years ago, I thought they were good. The last time, was my last time. Much better burger shops around.

It's so easy to fall back on chains, thinking you know what to expect, but seeking out smaller places ( which with the internet is easier to do ) can be very rewarding. They might be a bit more expensive, but are usually made by someone who cares what they are making, are healthier ( look at ingredient lists for some large chains ) and better tasting.

The most exciting donut/coffee related news in Houston is still the flagship Shipley Donuts underway.


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I heard that some of the new franchises will have pastries shipped in rather than made on site. But that stores that currently make on site will continue to do so. That won’t reflect the flagship though because they have a manufacturing center on new site. And waiting to peak their new menu.