Cape Breton Tim Hortons known for Jesus image on wall torn down

A Tim Hortonsin Nova Scotiathat drew national attention when customers said they saw animage of Jesuson itswall has been torn down.

Thousands flocked tothe coffee shop in Little Bras d'Or, N.S., in 1998to see it for themselves,but the pilgrimage dried up when aworkerreplaced some burnt-out bulbs in the outdoor lighting and the image disappeared.

Community hub

The coffee shophas been a long-standing meeting place for the surrounding area.

Regulars were surprisedwhen the building was torn down this week to make room for a new structure with a larger drive-thru and more parking.

"Holy smokes. What's happening here?" said one man on Tuesday.

A trailer has been brought in as a temporary TimHortonsuntil the new building is finished in December.

'Jesus bricks'

Little Bras d'Or resident KimWhittyremembers when the image of Jesus appeared in the building's brickwork. Nowshe wonders where those bricks are.

"If the Jesus bricks are here or gone or if they were taken outindividuallyand kept to the side,I don't know," she said.

Staff at the mobile unit servingup double-doubles and doughnuts aren't saying.

"God knows," was the response.