Throwback Thursday – Coca-Cola Bottling Company North Branch Facility

Things Go Better With Coke including our Throwback Thursday series! This week we visit May 1969 for the opening of Coca-Colas 300,000 sf North Branch Facility in Niles, Illinois.

Located on land that was once part of the Tam OShanter Golf Course (famous for hosting the first televised Golf Tournament in 1953 and, in turn, paving the way for many afternoon weekend naps across the land!) this facility was part of a greater centralization and expansion program for Coke.

In addition to the massive bottling operations, this plant also was home to a 55,000 sf office that served several Coke corporate groups.

Its the Real Thing: When construction of Epstein designed and engineered structural steel frame facility was completed it was the largest soft drink bottling plant in the world under one roof - Cant Beat the Feeling!

During the late 60s Epstein was responsible designing and engineering over ten facilities for Coke, almost enough Coke was produced at these plants that we, if we liked, could Buy the world a Coke!

This facility is still an operating Coca-Cola bottling facility and looks very much like the building we designed 45 years ago! Which is reason enough to Have a Coke and a Smile!

Sorry, we couldnt resist incorporating the various Coke taglines in this narrative I guess weve been Living the Coke Side of Life a little too long. Yeah, that last one was pretty bad.