Reporter Food: Tim Horton’s Re-Opens Under New Ownership in Ferndale
(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 17, 2019)
Ferndale, MI- “The previous owner just left,” said Kava Restaurants President and Chief Operating Officer Steve Williams, speaking about the Tim Horton restaurant at 22230 Woodward in Ferndale.  “We came in there was food still on the shelves, a coffee cup on the counter with coffee still in it.”
The restaurant closed in Dec. 2018 after Oakland County Health inspections showed that the store would be shut down if they did not make required upgrades and repairs. The owner walked away, and Kava stepped in.
Kava is in the business of acquiring struggling or failed Tim Horton properties and turning them around.  Including the one in Ferndale, the restaurant management group owns 75 locations throughout the Midwest.
In Oakland County they also have locations in Pontiac and Lake Orion. They also have some in Wayne County. They are based in Rochester.
Williams was on hand May 11 for a ribbon cutting along with members of the Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Authority.  Councilperson Raylon Leaks-May welcomed Kava management and the new crew of employees. “There were a lot of people missing their coffee,” she said.
Several of Ferndale’s finest also attended, who are well-known by Ferndale businesses including the city’s other donut shops – Dunkin Donuts just a few blocks north and Apple Fritter at Nine Mile and Hilton.
Willaims said that Kava has the experience and the management capabilities to maintain the property, and keep the staff supported in their work.
“Our whole platform is people and people development.  Everything we do is about that, if it helps someone be better, we do it.  If not we don’t.  At the end of the day, I believe all business is about building relationships – so we try to do that every day,” he said.
The ribbon-cutting was part of that community-building – as were the free Timbits and Tim Horton’s swag.
“We try to be community based, so when we took over and opened we looked for the opportunity to build that relationship, the Chamber is a key door opener,” Williams said.
As far as the food, there were plenty of sweet treats including cookies, danishes, bagels, croissants, and of course donuts. There is a freezer with prepackaged Cold Stone Creamy available for purchase, with counter service coming soon.
It also serves soup, sandwiches, wraps, and a menu of breakfast items.
Learn more about Tim Hortons at www.timhortons.com
White Castle is the Reporter Food sponsor of Oakland County Times, supporting our quest to explore restaurants throughout Oakland County. Find White Castle locations, and more information about all their menu options, at www.whitecastle.com.
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