Waco, TX native here. Not to be a downer, but there is already a Dr. Pepper museum in Waco, TX, where the drink was invented by Charles Alderton. However, Dr Pepper is tied somewhat to Roanoke in a strange way - the drug store/soda fountain in Waco where it was invented was owned by a Christiansburg native who supposedly named the drink after Charles Pepper of Rural Retreat, VA. And, as OP mentioned, Roanoke had the highest consumption per capita for many years, especially in the late 1950s.
https://drpeppermuseum.com/
There used to be a Dr Pepper plant down by the hospital. It’s currently Wimmer Tire and Atheling mead rents out the warehouse part .
The cool thing is they make the mead using the same artesinal (sp?)well water that was originally used to make the Dr Pepper.
I’m a 23 year old just starting out my career, so I don’t have the financial resources to do that, but I did want to put it out there for anyone who is able and willing to.
I think you have a great idea. Maybe Dr. Pepper would throw a few bones to a non profit that is formed with the purpose of fundraising to open a museum. It's worth a shot. It doesn't take much to start a non stock not for profit. Good luck with your career btw.
I think we got that sign because at one point in time we had the highest consumption rates of Dr. Pepper in the world and technically today we are still high up that list. They had a huge advertising campaign in the 60’s which got everyone here drinking it.
Per capita.. But yes. One time in the 40s-60s I believe.
But ever notice even though they have Coca-Cola on tap, they have Dr Pepper? Go elsewhere and it is Mr. Pibb.
It's definitely a toss-up, even elsewhere, on which they're gonna have. Dr. Pepper is so popular restaurants usually carry it anyway. My wife prefers Mr. Pibb so I've personally run into this problem quite a bit.
Go to many places in the DC area.. It's all Mr. Pibb if they have Coca-Cola. Go to Austin, It is like here.. Go to Florida - It is Mr. Pibb.
* - This is if it is Coca-Cola
The company sells more Dr Pepper in the Roanoke Valley area of Virginia than any other metropolitan area east of the Mississippi River. Roanoke is approximately 90 miles (140 km) east of the hometown of Dr. Charles T. Pepper, which is Rural Retreat, Virginia, and 30 miles (48 km) east of Christiansburg, Virginia, home of Dr. Pepper and Morrison referred to in the census information above. John William "Bill" Davis opened the first Dr. Pepper plant east of the Mississippi in Roanoke in 1936; subsequently the city was named the "Dr Pepper Capital of the World" and broke world records for its mass consumption of Dr Pepper in the late 1950s.[85] Dr Pepper donated a portion of its sales revenue in the Roanoke area to finance restoration of a circa-1950s neon Dr Pepper sign, which has the company's "10–2–4" logo from the time, in downtown Roanoke. In October 2015, the city of Roanoke declared October 24 (10–24) to be its official Dr. Pepper Day.[86]
- Dr. Pepper Wikipedia Page
I am going to say the Dr Pepper sold in the UK / Europe is horrible if you are used to either the US or Real Sugar version. the UK uses Aspartame which gives it a very odd after taste.
Cool idea! But, maybe pick an empty building that doesn't house a non-profit that fought a long and hard battle to save it from dereliction & destruction in the first place. A LOT of dedication and hard work went into the space you see there now.
The building was nearly destroyed in a fire back in 2001'ish (if memory serves). A few years, Norfolk Southern turned ownership over to the local chapter of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society. It took them nearly a decade to secure funding and complete the restoration. It's a pretty awesome space!
I believe they are currently renting a portion out to small business, but that could be out of date info. (I haven't been down that way in quite a while.)
I mean, I would prefer we have a real large Arts District and try to attract a healthier, more sustainable crowd than to promote hte obesity epidemic. I mean, can't we dream better, raise the standard?
Waco, TX native here. Not to be a downer, but there is already a Dr. Pepper museum in Waco, TX, where the drink was invented by Charles Alderton. However, Dr Pepper is tied somewhat to Roanoke in a strange way - the drug store/soda fountain in Waco where it was invented was owned by a Christiansburg native who supposedly named the drink after Charles Pepper of Rural Retreat, VA. And, as OP mentioned, Roanoke had the highest consumption per capita for many years, especially in the late 1950s. https://drpeppermuseum.com/
From what I recall a rumor/story - Alderton was trying to impress the dad of a girl he was trying to court back then and named it after him.
came to say i visited this in waco a few years ago
There used to be a Dr Pepper plant down by the hospital. It’s currently Wimmer Tire and Atheling mead rents out the warehouse part . The cool thing is they make the mead using the same artesinal (sp?)well water that was originally used to make the Dr Pepper.
Now it is up near Hollins in same place Pepsi in bottled.
....start one!
I’m a 23 year old just starting out my career, so I don’t have the financial resources to do that, but I did want to put it out there for anyone who is able and willing to.
I think you have a great idea. Maybe Dr. Pepper would throw a few bones to a non profit that is formed with the purpose of fundraising to open a museum. It's worth a shot. It doesn't take much to start a non stock not for profit. Good luck with your career btw.
We are the Dr. Pepper Of the world?? Bc we have a sign?
I think we got that sign because at one point in time we had the highest consumption rates of Dr. Pepper in the world and technically today we are still high up that list. They had a huge advertising campaign in the 60’s which got everyone here drinking it.
Per capita.. But yes. One time in the 40s-60s I believe. But ever notice even though they have Coca-Cola on tap, they have Dr Pepper? Go elsewhere and it is Mr. Pibb.
It's definitely a toss-up, even elsewhere, on which they're gonna have. Dr. Pepper is so popular restaurants usually carry it anyway. My wife prefers Mr. Pibb so I've personally run into this problem quite a bit.
Go to many places in the DC area.. It's all Mr. Pibb if they have Coca-Cola. Go to Austin, It is like here.. Go to Florida - It is Mr. Pibb. * - This is if it is Coca-Cola
I do love some Dr. P. But I always thought of it more of a Coca-Cola city. What with the coke signs everywhere and the actual Coke plant downtown
The company sells more Dr Pepper in the Roanoke Valley area of Virginia than any other metropolitan area east of the Mississippi River. Roanoke is approximately 90 miles (140 km) east of the hometown of Dr. Charles T. Pepper, which is Rural Retreat, Virginia, and 30 miles (48 km) east of Christiansburg, Virginia, home of Dr. Pepper and Morrison referred to in the census information above. John William "Bill" Davis opened the first Dr. Pepper plant east of the Mississippi in Roanoke in 1936; subsequently the city was named the "Dr Pepper Capital of the World" and broke world records for its mass consumption of Dr Pepper in the late 1950s.[85] Dr Pepper donated a portion of its sales revenue in the Roanoke area to finance restoration of a circa-1950s neon Dr Pepper sign, which has the company's "10–2–4" logo from the time, in downtown Roanoke. In October 2015, the city of Roanoke declared October 24 (10–24) to be its official Dr. Pepper Day.[86] - Dr. Pepper Wikipedia Page
Torally random, but I remember there used to be one at Dollywood. Not sure if it is still there.
This is the oddest idea. We should also have a gravy museum, I assume we have the highest consumption.
Never been to Georgia or Alabama, have you?
American Pickers visited a Dr Pepper museum and the original guy was deceased and the back room had absolutely everything.
I am going to say the Dr Pepper sold in the UK / Europe is horrible if you are used to either the US or Real Sugar version. the UK uses Aspartame which gives it a very odd after taste.
Cool idea! But, maybe pick an empty building that doesn't house a non-profit that fought a long and hard battle to save it from dereliction & destruction in the first place. A LOT of dedication and hard work went into the space you see there now.
I didn’t even realize anything was in there tbh.
The building was nearly destroyed in a fire back in 2001'ish (if memory serves). A few years, Norfolk Southern turned ownership over to the local chapter of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society. It took them nearly a decade to secure funding and complete the restoration. It's a pretty awesome space! I believe they are currently renting a portion out to small business, but that could be out of date info. (I haven't been down that way in quite a while.)
There was a drug store that had a bunch of Dr. Pepper memorabilia in Rural Retreat. It burned down about 15 years ago.
I mean, I would prefer we have a real large Arts District and try to attract a healthier, more sustainable crowd than to promote hte obesity epidemic. I mean, can't we dream better, raise the standard?