“Three employees a one-horse wagon and 37 cases of Coca-Cola That’s how it all began right here at the Original Site of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Dallas Plaque.
This unassuming spot in Deep Ellum marks a pivotal moment in Dallas history. It’s where John T Lupton a Chattanooga businessman established one of the first Coca-Cola bottling plants in the nation. This was in 1902. He invested a mere $5000 a small sum considering the empire that would follow.
Imagine the scene. A small hand-operated foot-powered machine. Two bottles at a time. One under syrup the other under carbonated water. Then a cap. This was the process. Employees washed the reusable bottles by hand. They used cleaning fluid and steel pellets. It was hard work.
The first day of production June 10 1902 yielded incredible results. Those 37 cases sold quickly. They were delivered by a humble one-horse wagon. This small beginning grew exponentially. By 1905 sales boomed. The company moved to a larger facility at 1800 Wood Street.
The Original Site of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Dallas Plaque isn’t just a marker. It’s a testament to the spirit of entrepreneurship. It showcases the evolution of a global brand from its humble beginnings. By 2002 the company employed over 2600 people across 19 locations. That’s quite a legacy.
So look around you. This seemingly ordinary spot played a crucial role in shaping Dallas and the world. This is the birth place of Dallas’s Coca-Cola legacy. Let’s raise a virtual glass to the Original Site of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Dallas Plaque. To its founders and to the sweet success of Coca-Cola.”