OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon
Construction for a new Tim Hortons in Mayville has yet to begin.
MAYVILLE – The state Department of Transportation is being blamed for the construction delay of Tim Hortons in the village, although the state agency has now reportedly signed off on the project.
During the recent Mayville Village Board meeting, Code Enforcement Officer Frank Watson gave an update on the proposed coffee and restaurant chain to be built at 7 West Chautauqua St. The vacant property previously housed the Mayville Diner. That restaurant was destroyed in an arson fire in December, 2019.
“The official word on that is the Department of Transportation came in and wanted to make sure that the entrance was a certain way, so that’s what kicked it back to Tim Hortons. They’re coming up with new plans to accommodate the Department of Transportation,” Watson said. “Once that’s done, we’ll take another look at it. If it crosses back over into another variance or special use permit, we’ll make sure we get to it.”
When Tim Hortons was first proposed in September, 2023, the developers said they wanted to have the new restaurant open and running this fall. The property remains vacant and no work has taken place.
The village of Mayville ended up with the property after it was acquired by Chautauqua County for the owner not paying property taxes. After the village owned it, the village paid to clean it up. They later sold it to Mayville Property Management, LLC for $45,000 for them to construct a Tim Hortons restaurant and drive through on the property.
The money from the sale helped cover the village costs spent removing the debris from the former restaurant and reseeding the land.
After the developers purchased the property, they contacted the town of Chautauqua to buy some additional land. This would help them have a wider drive-through. The town board sold the additional land in April.
Afterward, the project was sent to the county Planning Board because part of the property was zoned residential. The county Planning Board had no objections or concerns.
Since then the proposal has been reviewed by the village and the state DOT, because it’s going to enter and exit on Route 430.
“This is actually quite common these days. Go to Amherst and it will take you another year to get something like this because you’ve got to go through so many checks and balances,” he said.
Watson reiterated the village’s commitment to helping see the project through. “I know everyone is anxious for a cup of coffee. It will come,” he said.
Mayor Rick Syper said he and state Sen. George Borrello recently met with the DOT regarding the project.
“After we left, they were agreeable to the civil engineer’s request of where to put the driveway and all that,” he said.
Since that meeting, Watson said he hasn’t received the revised plans.
Developers David and Gina Kron were not at Tuesday’s village board meeting.
After the meeting, The Post-Journal/OBSERVER asked Watson if he thinks construction will start this year. He replied, “It’s hard to say. I think it comes down to how soon Tim Hortons gets back to us and of course we would do our thing. We’re waiting for Tim Hortons to come back.”
The Krons own and operate five other Tim Hortons restaurants in Chautauqua County — two in Dunkirk, one in Fredonia, one in Cassadaga and one in Westfield. The Westfield location opened in December, where the Vine City Restaurant used to be.