AKRON, Ohio -- A hole in the Akron doughnut scene is about to get filled.

Tim Hortons is set to make its debut in the Rubber City on July 18 with the 5 a.m. opening of a shop at 637 Canton Road in Akron’s Ellet neighborhood.

The Canadian chain is expanding its presence in Northeast Ohio this year through Beachwood-based franchisee TH Cleveland.

In 2017, TH Cleveland announced plans to open 105 Tim Hortons locations in Northeast Ohio, including eight set to open in 2018. That didn’t happen.

The first shop in the region opened in March on Belmont Avenue in Youngstown. Another location is set to open July 25 on State Street in Girard.

The company hasn’t finalized plans to open a store in the Cleveland area, a TH Cleveland spokeswoman told cleveland.com.

The franchisee is piloting a “first of its kind” concept, which will make signs and design cleaner, TH Cleveland told cleveland.com previously. The plans require building from the ground up, instead of renovating a building, which has contributed to the delay.

TH Cleveland also operates five Tim Hortons in the Columbus area.

Another Tim’s is set to open in Akron this fall on George Washington Boulevard near East Waterloo Road on the city’s southeast side.

The Ellet store’s hours will be 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

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