DIXIE COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY PLANT

Atlanta, Georgia

History of Atlanta’s Coca-Cola Legacy

The Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant is one of Atlanta’s most significant industrial landmarks and played 

a pivotal role in transforming Coca-Cola from a fountain beverage into one of the world’s most recognized bottled soft drinks. 

Located at 125 Edgewood Avenue, the building served as the headquarters and bottling plant of the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company 

beginning in 1900. It was here that the franchise bottling system was pioneered, forever changing the beverage industry and enabling

 Coca-Cola to be distributed nationwide and eventually around the world.

A Legacy of Innovation

The Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant represents one of the most important chapters in American business history. 

Entrepreneurs Joseph B. Whitehead and Benjamin F. Thomas secured the exclusive bottling rights to Coca-Cola from Asa G. Candler, 

establishing a business model that became the foundation for the company’s worldwide success. Within only a few years, hundreds of 

independently owned bottling plants were operating across the United States using the franchise system first developed in Atlanta.

A National Historic Landmark

Because of its extraordinary historical importance, the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1983.

 It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its national significance in American industrial, commercial, and business history.

1. Early Beginnings

Constructed in 1891, the building originally served commercial purposes before becoming the first headquarters and bottling facility

 for the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company in 1900. From this modest brick building, a revolutionary distribution system 

was launched that changed how soft drinks were produced and sold.

2. Birth of the Bottling Franchise

The plant became the birthplace of the Coca-Cola bottling franchise system. Rather than producing every bottle from one

 location, independent bottlers received licenses to manufacture and distribute Coca-Cola within designated territories.

 This innovative business model fueled rapid national expansion and became one of the most successful franchise systems in history.

3. Industrial Growth

As Coca-Cola’s popularity exploded during the early twentieth century, the small Atlanta bottling plant quickly

 became too small to meet demand. New bottling facilities were established throughout the Southeast and eventually

 across the United States, helping make Coca-Cola a household name around the world.

4. Architectural Significance

The building is a rare surviving example of Victorian Eclectic commercial architecture in downtown Atlanta. 

Although it has undergone renovations over the years, it remains one of the few surviving buildings directly associated with

 Coca-Cola’s earliest history. Its distinctive brick construction and corner turret make it one of Atlanta’s most recognizable historic industrial landmarks.

5. Preservation and Recognition

Historic preservation efforts have protected the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant for future generations. 

Its designation as both a National Historic Landmark and an Atlanta Landmark Building ensures that this important piece of

 American industrial history continues to educate visitors about the origins of one of the world’s most famous brands.

6. Today

Today, the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant remains a treasured historic landmark in downtown Atlanta. 

While no longer used as a bottling facility, the building stands as a symbol of innovation, entrepreneurship, and Atlanta’s role in creating 

one of the world’s most successful consumer brands. Visitors continue to admire the site for its architectural beauty and 

its remarkable contribution to American business history.

What Makes the Landmark Special

• Birthplace of Coca-Cola’s franchise bottling system
• National Historic Landmark
• Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• One of Atlanta’s oldest surviving Coca-Cola-related buildings
• Important symbol of American business innovation
• Significant Victorian commercial architecture
• Historic connection to the worldwide success of Coca-Cola

Address

Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Plant
125 Edgewood Avenue SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Preserving Atlanta’s History, Celebrating American Innovation

ATLANTA, GEORGIA