Bruce K.
Yelp
I'm not a Pepsi drinker but I can certainly appreciate the popularity and the culture that follows the brand. And I'm certainly not going to miss the opportunity to visit the birthplace of Pepsi.
Yes, Caleb Bradham created and sold "Brad's Drink" in 1893 at his downtown drugstore, which at the time was known as the New Bern Drug Store. Five years later, he changed the name of the beverage to "Pepsi-Cola," referring to the pepsin and kola nut components that were purported to aid in digestion. The Pepsi-Cola corporation was formally established in North Carolina in 1902, and by the following year, Bradham had filed for trademark registration and was marketing the beverage from both his pharmacy and an adjacent warehouse that operated as a bottling plant. Over 24 states had Pepsi-Cola franchises by 1905, when the beverage was being offered in glass 6 ounce bottles.
Unfortunately, Bradham lost the majority of his wealth in a poor business decision (he overbought sugar, and the price fell soon after), which led to his filing for bankruptcy. Bradham returned to running his drug store in New Bern while selling the business to Craven Holding Company for $35,000. Pepsi has unquestionably become the most popular cola in New Bern and is still the second-most popular cola brand in the world, as is clear from its international success.
All of this is here in New Bern along with tons of Pepsi memorabilia for sale. Post cards, shot glasses, coasters, drinking glasses and more. If you're a Pepsi fan, you can't miss out on this.
[Review 18890 overall - 3375 in North Carolina - 2413 of 2022.]