CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Not long after Coca-Cola was invented back in 1886, the company hired sign painters to extol the virtues of the new delicious and refreshing beverage on the sides of buildings across the country. Thousands of iconic Coca-Cola wall murals became prominent features in cities and towns, particularly in the rural South.
Thousands of these iconic advertisements remain today, but many have faded and are barely recognizable. But Coca-Cola Consolidated has joined a movement in many communities to revitalize downtowns, and the restoration of these ‘ghost signs’ has become a part of the rebirth of small town America.
“Coca-Cola has been a part of the fabric of American life for more than 128 years,” said Lauren C. Steele, Sr. VP, Coca-Cola Consolidated. “Long before the world-famous Times Square Coca-Cola sign was built, thousands of wall murals were painted in small towns and cities across the country. At Coca-Cola Consolidated, we have been identifying and refurbishing those signs over the past few years in partnership with community efforts to revitalize downtowns in our franchise territory.”
Coca-Cola Consolidated will be hosting three community celebrations to unveil newly refurbished historic Coca-Cola wall murals this week in Rocky Mount, VA; Ronceverte, WV: and Hinton, WV. Numerous elected officials, community leaders, customers and consumers are expected to attend, and all are welcome.
“These iconic Coca-Cola wall murals are clearly part of our history,” Steele said. “But more importantly, they are part of the history of each of these towns as well. We have been part of these communities for more than 100 years, and we are thrilled be to be able to support these downtown revitalization efforts.”
In addition to the Virginia and West Virginia ghost sign restorations, Coca-Cola Consolidated has repainted iconic Coca-Cola wall murals in Concord, NC; Hendersonville, NC; Roanoke, VA; Salisbury, NC; North Wilkesboro, NC; Mebane, NC among others and have plans to repaint many more.
The community celebration in Rocky Mount will be held at 11 am, Wednesday, July 9 at 467 Franklin Street, the site of the soon-to-be-opened Bootleggers Café. The event in Ronceverte, WV will be held at 5 pm, July 9 at 812 Monroe Avenue, in front of what is now the Greenbrier Recycling Center. The Hinton ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11 am, Thursday, July 10 at 216 3rd Avenue. Cold, delicious Coca-Cola products will be served at each event and all are invited!
Charlotte-based Coca-Cola Consolidated is the nation’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler with franchise territories in 11 Southeastern states. For more information on CCBCC visit www.CokeConsolidated.com. You can also follow CCBCC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cokeconsolidated.
--Enjoy Coca-Cola—
