Tim Hortons timeline: From humble beginnings to 4,000-plus locations

Cups of coffee sit on a counter in a Tim Hortons in Oakville, Ontario on Monday September 16, 2013. (Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

1964- Tim Hortons opens its first location in Hamilton, Ont. Coffee cost 25 cents and doughnuts were 69 cents a dozen. The doughnut shop was founded by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and partner Jim Charade. Charade left the company in 1966.

First Tim Hortons location The first Tim Hortons location is pictured in Hamilton, Ont.

1974- Tim Horton dies in car crash.  Ron Joyce, the company’s first franchisee, assumes full control of the company.

Tim Horton In this Wednesday, July 22, 2009, file photo, a Tim Hortons coffee cup is seen in New York. The Canadian doughnut chain moved into 12 former Dunkin Donut locations earlier in the month, bringing new blood to the doughnut war in America's most competitive market. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

1976- Tim Hortons introduces the Timbit, a bite-sized doughnut hole. The chain later introduces muffins, cookies and soups and chili to its menu in the 1980s.

Timbits A box of Timbits donuts is seen in this undated file photo. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

1984- The first U.S. Tim Horton location opens in Tonawanda, New York.

1986- Canadians are introduced to the first RRRoll Up the Rim contest.

1995- Wendy’s International Inc. purchases Tim Hortons for $400 million.

Wendy's restaurant In this July 29, 2005 file photo, a Wendy's restaurant is shown in Columbus, Ohio. (AP / Terry Gilliam)

2004- The word ‘Double-double’ is added to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.

Double Double introduced to dictionary A cup of Tim Hortons coffee is poured in Toronto on May 14 2010. The iconic Canadian purveyor of "double double" coffees ranks among the top five in Zagat's latest survey of fast food chains in the United States. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

2005 – Wendy’s announces it will sell 15 to 18 per cent of Tim Hortons operations in an initial public offering and spin off its remaining interests to shareholders.

2006- Shares of the company begin trading on March 24, with an initial public offering of $27 per share, raising more than $700 million in the first day of trading. Tim Hortons is fully spun off as a separate company in September.

Tim Hortons IPO Mary Elizabeth Lane, center, widow of Tim Hortons late executive vice president, is applauded as she rings the New York Stock Exchange opening bell, Friday March 24, 2006, as Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons Inc. has its initial public offering. Joining Lane are NYSE CEO John Thain, second left, and Henry Svazas, second from right, Tim Hortons senior vice presidednt for development. Wendy's International Inc., which bought Tim Hortons in 1995, will continue to own about 85 percent of Tim Hortons' common stock, or about 160 million shares, according to a filing this month with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

2011- Tim Hortons opens its 4,000th location. The vast majority are in Canada and nearly 900 are in the U.S. The chain has announced growth plans in the Persian Gulf.

Tim Hortons in Kandahar Master Warrant Officer Brian Garrett, based out of CFB Petawawa, Ont. buys Tim Hortons coffee Saturday, Apr.21, 2007 and gets the chance to play Roll Up The Rim To Win at the Tim Hortons in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Saturday was the launch date for Tim Hortons to bring out the newly-designed desert pattern cups for a special Roll Up The Rim in Kandahar. There are 5 grand prizes of $1000.00 (US) along with digital cameras, gift certificates, Tim Hortons hats, coffee and donuts. (CP PHOTO/HO/ Combat Camera/Sgt Roxanne Clowe)

2014- Tim Hortons and Burger King announce in a joint statement that they’re in talks to create a new Canadian-based company through a merger that would see both chains operate as standalone brands.