For the first time, residents of Six Nations of the Grand River can now get a double-double and a box of Timbits without travelling too far.

The first full-service Tim Horton’s officially opened today, at its new location on Chiefswood Road in Oshweken.

Carmel Bomberry was at the ribbon cutting ceremony, she likes that it will bring jobs into the area, she also likes the idea of a coffee shop nearby.

“I think it’s perfect, when I need to get time away from home I can just go around the corner instead of going into town,” says Bomberry.

The Chiefswood location is Ontario’s first native owned Tim Horton’s on native territory.

The coffee shop has been open for about a week now and has hired 61 native employees.

Co-owner Landon Miller says he has been working on getting the store open for about seven years.

“It's been extremely busy. The community obviously was waiting for it and they supported us from day one,” said Miller.

Now that it’s finally up and running Miller said it’s a proud day for him.

“So far this is just our way of giving thanks and appreciation through our learning curve and hopefully we can move forward with providing a service that everybody expects from Tim Horton’s,” said Miller.

In Six Nations territory, only people from Six Nations can own property.

Miller says the biggest obstacles to overcome were land ownership and taxation.

“I’m in six nations so I have to follow six nations governing bodies both confederacy and elected, so that was one aspect that needed to be addressed and I’m happy to say was met,” says Miller.
 
Anyone buying coffee or food at this store won’t pay provincial sales tax, making your coffee or meal eight percent cheaper.

Hockey Star Ted Nolan is the shops co-owner.

He says growing up in Garden River Ontario all they wanted was an opportunity.

“The best thing about this is that we are creating economic growth.
There is nothing better than a young person having a job and learning how to work, that’s the bottom line, is that the more work we can create the healthier or communities are going to be,” says Nolan.

Six Nations of the Grand River elected Chief Ava Hill says they are open to the possibility of bringing in more popular franchises to the Six Nations community

“I think it's excellent and I think it's going to help boost our economy and it's going to be good and maybe help bring more people to our community as well,” says Hill.