Learn More About
The Cola Warehouse of Gadsden
A Century of Bottling and Business: The History of the Gadsden Coca-Cola Bottling Plant
Nestled on Walnut Street near downtown Gadsden, Alabama, the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant stands as a tangible link to the city’s industrial and commercial evolution. The story of this site, officially located at 644 Walnut Street, spans more than a century and reflects the trajectory of both Coca-Cola’s expansion across the Southeast and Gadsden’s rise as a manufacturing hub.
Early Bottling Efforts in Gadsden (1902-1915)
Gadsden’s relationship with Coca-Cola began in 1902 when Dan C. Turrentine opened a bottling works on Broad Street, backed by a contract for the exclusive sale of Coca-Cola across several counties. However, his operation was short-lived, destroyed by fire in 1903. This prompted a series of ownership changes that would eventually bring Gadsden into the fold of the Alabama Coca-Cola Bottling Company, founded by Charles V. Rainwater in 1907.
*Image recieved from the Gadsden Public Library
CONTENTDm. (n.d.). https://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/gpl01/id/182
By 1908, Coca-Cola had established a sizable presence in Gadsden under the leadership of C.E. Adams, with its facilities documented on Sanborn maps. These early plants were basic, including a large wooden frame building along 2nd Street and then a new brick facility on 1st and Locust Street by 1915.
Gadsden’s relationship with Coca-Cola began in 1902 when Dan C. Turrentine opened a bottling works on Broad Street, backed by a contract for the exclusive sale of Coca-Cola across several counties. However, his operation was short-lived—destroyed by fire in 1903. This prompted a series of ownership changes that would eventually bring Gadsden into the fold of the Alabama Coca-Cola Bottling Company, founded by Charles V. Rainwater in 1907.
Gadsden’s relationship with Coca-Cola began in 1902 when Dan C. Turrentine opened a bottling works on Broad Street, backed by a contract for the exclusive sale of Coca-Cola across several counties. However, his operation was short-lived—destroyed by fire in 1903. This prompted a series of ownership changes that would eventually bring Gadsden into the fold of the Alabama Coca-Cola Bottling Company, founded by Charles V. Rainwater in 1907.
The 1929 Landmark Plant: A New Era on Walnut Street
In January 1929, Coca-Cola announced a major expansion of its operations in Gadsden and Anniston. The plans included the construction of a modern new plant on Walnut Street, estimated at $100,000, a significant investment at the time. Groundbreaking occurred by mid-1929, and by 1930, a two-story brick structure, complete with a rear auto garage, stood as a testament to Gadsden's growing commercial clout.
This new building wasn’t just functional; it was architecturally significant. Designed by Pringle and Smith, the firm commissioned by Coca-Cola's Standardization Committee, the plant followed one of several standardized architectural plans introduced in 1928. These plans helped Coca-Cola create a consistent brand image across the country and reflected the company’s commitment to modernization. Gadsden’s plant is among the rare surviving examples of these designs today.
Expansion and Innovation (1930-1950s)
The plant embraced modernization throughout its early life. By the 1940s, Sanborn maps show the plant had expanded its real estate footprint and rear facilities. The structure incorporated steel frame construction, steam heat, and electric lighting. Additions in 1948–1949 included concrete and tile-floored wings on both the east and south sides of the plant, enhancing its operational capacity without altering the original 1929 façade.
_JPG.jpg)
The rear auto garage, essential for Coca-Cola’s delivery fleet, also saw extensive expansions over the years, becoming a substantial brick facility with added storage, shop, and painting space. This part of the complex still reflects its original use as a service center for the bottling plant’s distribution operations.
CONTENTDm. (n.d.-b). https://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/gpl01/id/2330
*Image recieved from the Gadsden Public Library
Peak Operation and Transition (1950s-1980s)
Coca-Cola operated out of the Walnut Street facility through much of the 20th century, with photos and city directories indicating that the company was still active at the site as late as 1986. By 1987, the plant transitioned to new ownership when Gregerson’s Foods acquired the building and repurposed it as their corporate offices.
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola moved its local operations to a newer facility on East Meighan Boulevard. Ultimately, Coca-Cola ceased all bottling operations in Gadsden by 1993, consolidating services with other regional plants.
Preservation and New Ownership (2000s-Present)
After Gregerson’s Foods, the plant passed through several hands: first to the National Auction Group in 2001, then to the Alabama Teachers Credit Union in 2014. In 2022, a group known as Gadsden Cola LLC purchased the property with intentions to preserve and adaptively reuse the historic structure.
In 2023, the Gadsden Coca-Cola Bottling Plant was officially nominated for the National Register of Historic Places, qualifying under Criterion A for Commerce and Criterion C for Architecture. Its inclusion recognizes not only its industrial significance but also its role in Gadsden’s broader story, a city that transformed from a rural settlement into a commercial and industrial center in the span of just a few generations.