noogatoday, Author at NOOGAtoday

November 25, 2020

The Chattanooga Coca-Cola connection

Here’s a little taste of Chattanooga history for ya.

✅ Although Atlanta may be the birthplace of Coca-Cola, it might not have become available to the masses if it weren’t for Chattanooga.

✅ In 1899, Chattanooga businessmen Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead wanted to bottle the drink and went to Atlanta to pitch the idea to the Coca-Cola Co. owner, Asa Candler.

✅ Candler didn’t think the idea would float, and he sold the bottling rights to the Chattanoogans for $1.

✅ The duo, with the help of John T. Lupton, opened the world’s first Coca-Cola bottling company downtown where Patten Parkway is now.

The rest is tasty history. 🙌

Original photo: Chattanooga Public Library

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