Winston-Salem awards landmark status to former Coca-Cola bottling plant

A former Coca-Cola bottling plant in Winston-Salem has been designated a local historic landmark ahead of its planned redevelopment. 

Originally built in 1929, the facility was the first bottling plant designed by Coca-Cola architects. At Monday’s city council meeting, historic resources officer Michelle McCullough said the facility is both architecturally and culturally significant. 

“The plant exemplifies the diversity of manufacturing operations that drove Winston-Salem’s epic economic and physical growth in the early 20th century," she said. "And it shows beyond our tobacco and our textile industry, we had other industries.”

In 1980, after the facility ceased operations, it was acquired by Old Salem which used it primarily for storage. It’s now owned by Jared Rogers, who is planning to redevelop it into a restaurant and event space. It will also host a commercial kitchen for Bobby Boy Bakeshop. 

The landmark designation means Rogers can now apply for an annual tax deferral of up to 50%, as long as the building’s historic features are maintained. 

The initial phase of the redevelopment project is expected to be completed in September of next year.