Structural problems in the ceiling have forced the temporary closure of the Tim Hortons restaurant near Main Street.

Owner Doug Terry said this morning he expects the store to be closed for about two weeks, in keeping with the time a local contractor estimated it would take to make repairs.

Structural engineers and an insurance adjuster were expected to be onsite today, he said.

When he went to the store early Friday evening before closing, Terry told the Star, he noticed one of the overhead display banners wasn’t hanging right.

When he climbed a ladder to straighten things out, he saw what he expected was a larger issue with the integrity of the ceiling, Terry explained.

He said he immediately called in a local contractor who made a closer inspection and determined there was a safety issue. The store was vacated and closed at 6:45, or 15 minutes prior to the regular closing time.

The ceiling dropped another 45 centimetres (18 inches) or so overnight, he explained, adding that the local contractor and his crew were in there Saturday shoring up everything with scaffolding and beams.

“Thank God nobody was hurt,” said Terry.

“We are just trying to figure out what happened, and then the construction crew can come in and make repairs.”

Terry said he doesn’t believe it’s a problem with the roof structure, but rather is limited to the ceiling and bulk heads that support the display boards and such.

The 20 employees who work at the downtown location will have regular shifts woven into the 24-hour drive-thru location further north on Second Avenue, he said.

Terry said he does not want to lose any of the staff over this.

The additional staff at the drive-thru location will also help meet what Terry expects to be an increase in business while repairs are made to the downtown location, he said.

Terry said the closure couldn’t have come a worse time, as the Tim Hortons annual Roll-Up-The-Rim campaign will begin Wednesday.