  Designut Member Username: Designut Post Number: 13 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 69.246.46.45 |
Iv'e been thinking about the old atlas bottling co in hamtamck lately... I remember going there with my dad in the early 90's to get cases of great soda, especially around the holidays - unusual flavors too, like grapefruit and lime. the glass bottles came in wooden crates that you would return upon your your next visit - very "old fashioned" - just wondering what became of the building and if anyone would like to share any memories/pics of atlas bottling. | ||
Steve Member Username: Steve Post Number: 13 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 89.1.227.93 |
Didn't they have an outlet on Coolidge in Berkley? | ||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 3042 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.73.59.28 |
The building sat vacant for quite a few years until the last six months or so. Somebody is converting it into a multi-tenant retail building. They cut the building in half, demolished the southern part that faces the side street and put a new facade there. BTW, it's in Detroit, not Hamtramck. | ||
Detroitteacher Member Username: Detroitteacher Post Number: 28 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Wasn't that soda called Towne Club? I remember my parents buying that stuff. It was a GREAT honor to go with dad to pick out new Towne Club soda. | ||
Steve Member Username: Steve Post Number: 14 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 89.1.227.93 |
You're right, Detroitteacher. It was Towne Club in Berkley. | ||
Harsensis Member Username: Harsensis Post Number: 62 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.227.102.82 |
I still have a case of empty Atlas bottles. I used them for a science class to show them how air expands when it's heated last year. | ||
Pacypacy_ Member Username: Pacypacy_ Post Number: 150 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 136.181.195.84 |
Atlas's best beverages were "Brownie Root Beer" and "Bulldog Ginger Beer". We dispensed Atlas beverages in bottles at our workplace into the 90's. As a treat in the summer as kids we would go down to our corner store on Bessemore and Rohns and by frozen flavors of Atlas beverages in Dixie cups for a nickel. (orange and grape were awesome frozen!) | ||
Mtm Member Username: Mtm Post Number: 8 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 134.67.6.11 |
Atlas was great for all of our home parties like communions and graduations. We kids especially liked being able to pick out our own flavors. Red pop for me! I think it was before Faygo had red pop. As to the Dixie cups with frozen pop or Kool-Aid, we called those Frozen Lindies and WAY early on, they cost $.02 (dangit! no cent key on the keyboard anymore unless i want to code it.) Almost all of the little Mom & Pop grocery stores had them in summer. I still actually make them from time to time. | ||
Designut Member Username: Designut Post Number: 15 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 65.123.68.93 |
Thanks Hamtramck_steve. I couldn't remember where it was so I googled it and got a Hamtramck address on Conant. Is this correct at all? Where exactly is the building?...I wanted to take a trip later this week to see it... (I was probably 10 yrs old last time I was there) | ||
Mtm Member Username: Mtm Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 134.67.6.11 |
It was on Conant and Carpenter. The area has changes considerably in the past few years, though. The Old Mill Bar which used to have GREAT burgers is now, I beleve, a Mosque.  | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1261 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.179 |
The owner of Atlas Bottling used to live down the block from me, on Lantz near Van Dyke. I remember taking my red wagon down to his house to purchase a case of Cream Soda, or a hard to get flavor. He used to have experimental flavors that he'd market test on the neighborhood kids. His name was Polish, and may have begun with a T, memory isn't what it used to be. | ||
Designut Member Username: Designut Post Number: 18 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 65.123.68.93 |
Much appreciated Mtm! I will soon take a trip to Atlas to see if it is at all how I remembered... Also - thanks to all for sharing your fond memories, I will never forget chugging (literally) the pint (?) bottles of grapefruit soda on christmas eve with my siblings. R.I.P. ATLAS SODA | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2583 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.59 |
Atlas Pop in those scuffed up bottles was one of the treats when eating at Buddy's: pizza, antipasto salad and a couple of bottle of exotic-flavored eastside pop. | ||
Mtm Member Username: Mtm Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 134.67.6.11 |
My pleasure, Designnut! But, SERIOUSLY, the area has changed quite a bit. Its far more international now and you won't find much of the old stuff until you get further down Conant to Genie's Weenies. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 3999 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.171.136.201 |
jjaba has absolutely no memory of Atlas pop. This is a wonderful trip down Eastside memory lane. Detroit was so big, even the soda pop was regional. For his Bar Mitzvah, jjaba got a keg of Vernor's delivered to his bedroom. We set up the bar for his Bar Mitzvah party there. The front of the 5-room, second floor flat was for the adults and us kids got sick drinking Vernor's all night back there. That was May, 1954. jjaba, Westside Bar Mitzvah Bukkor. | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 542 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
Whenever you do a Map look-up on Yahoo for the zip code 48212 you always come up with that being for Hamtramck, MI. But, that zip code includes Detroit North of Hamtramck, too. http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_res ult?addr=&csz=48212&country=us &new=1&name=&qty= Livedog2 | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 543 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
This is a technical question, probably for Hamtramck_steve but others may know, too. There was and still is, I think, a building on the Southwest corner of Jos Campau and Carpenter that I think was an Atlas Distribution Center for Atlas Pop. Is that right? It seems to me that there was a wall mural advertising "Brownie Root Beer", also??? Livedog2 | ||
Mtm Member Username: Mtm Post Number: 11 Registered: 06-2006 Posted From: 134.67.6.11 |
The Brownie Root Beer mural was on the side of the Atlas Center on Conant. I don't think there was anything on Campau. Regarding 48212 coming up as Hamtramck, the area is covered by the Hamtamck post office but it IS Detroit. My Dad, who still lives in the area, always refers to it as "Hamtramck Heights" - poking fun at the other Parks, Farms, etc. | ||
Designut Member Username: Designut Post Number: 19 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 65.123.68.93 |
Not sure livedog - but thanks for clearing up the zip code discrepency - it seemed a bit odd | ||
Designut Member Username: Designut Post Number: 20 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 65.123.68.93 |
Ahah! and thank you Mtm.... | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 544 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
Atlas Pop  Brownie Mural  Atlas Bottling Plant on Conant  Inside of Atlas Bottling Plant  Equipment in the Atlas Bottling Plant  Credit Photos to: DetroitPix Memories List @ http://www.angelfire.com/de2/detroitpix/BrownieRootBeer.html Livedog2 | ||
Southwestmap Member Username: Southwestmap Post Number: 506 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 70.229.231.102 |
There was a pop outlet on West Vernor that I associate with Atlas. Any real SW-siders remember? | ||
Designut Member Username: Designut Post Number: 21 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 65.123.68.93 |
Great pics - I remembered it being bigger (at least two stories) I guess things seem bigger when you're a 4 ft. tall kid  | ||
Designut Member Username: Designut Post Number: 22 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 65.123.68.93 |
also- am i wrong about the wooden crates? I guess they were cardboard as the photo indicates...? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4001 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.171.136.201 |
Did the Eastside also put Planter Peanuts in 12 oz. Atlas like we did in Pepsis? Never mind the zip codes. There are Detroit address zip codes in Grosse Pointe, Oak Park, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Ferndale. The 482 zip code isn't just for Detroit. Never was. jjaba went to a concert in Australia where the artist played a "Fosterphone." A cardboard beer case as percussion that you sat on. jjaba. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1265 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.158 |
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Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4005 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.171.136.201 |
Hornwrecker, your choice? Brownie Hires A&W Barqs Dads Faygo Big K Krogers. jjaba, Westsider, drinking a cold bottled Vernor's. | ||
Thelionking Member Username: Thelionking Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 207.148.194.249 |
In the Southwest D, there was a large building on West Vernor, where my parents used to pick up Towne Club soft drinks. It's now a vacant lot. Here is a map to the location: http://www.pininthemap.com/pp5 45e408a013a4e229 | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4008 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.171.136.201 |
That's one of 45,000 vacant lots, in a Detroit with so much lost culture. Thanks Thelionking. Welcome to the Forum. Funny you reference Towne Club sales on Vernor's Ginger Ale Highway. Towne Club on Vernor? Are you sure? (And how can you prove a vacant lot?) But all Forum members understand exactly. jjaba, Proudly Westside. | ||
Correctone Member Username: Correctone Post Number: 35 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 68.42.152.51 |
right on West Vernor between Livernois & Waterman streets there is a railroad viaduct on the south side of W. Vernor there was a soda pop bottlng company (can't think of the name) and it was there inthe 50's for sure, their most famous brands were Dad's Root Beer, Bulldog and Beyeries Chocolate Pop(I know I'm mis-spelling it), anyway it was there into the late 60's before folding then about that time Atlas took the building over as a retail outlet for Towne Club and they did continue Bulldog Ginger Ale, I'm not sure if any soda's were made there any more or Atlas may have used some of the equipment over at the main factory.. does anybody remember the original name of the bottler at the West Vernor location? | ||
J_stone Member Username: J_stone Post Number: 328 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 63.77.247.130 |
Bulldog Ginger Beer - My Favorite! I wish I could still get the stuff. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1267 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 206.148.168.254 |
Jjaba, young Hornwrecker always preferred cream soda or occasionally a Yoohoo. Can't say the he was much of a root beer aficianado, now if you omit the root part.  | ||
Treble484 Member Username: Treble484 Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 69.14.92.85 |
I remember the Town Club plant on Vernor Hwy, also remember a pop bottleing plant on Jefferson & Dearborn Street in Delray. Don't remember the name maybe it was Oh-So Pop. | ||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 1099 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 68.60.45.70 |
Hornwrecker, The family name is Tomaczeski.<sp> Is that bottleing plant still empty on Ryan at 10 Mile? | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1270 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 206.148.168.254 |
Thanks, I thought that it might be Tomasczewski, but was unsure. The last Towne Club operating, on Ryan just north of 10 Mile on the west side, was demolished about three years ago to build a drugstore, as there was a mile of Ryan without one. It stood empty for many years, but you could still see stacks of wooden crates and lots of shopping carts in the large windows. I never took a photo of it, because it seemed like it would always be there.  | ||
Correctone Member Username: Correctone Post Number: 36 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 68.42.152.51 |
I just remembered the name of the bottler on W. Vernor back in the 50's-60's before Towne Club (Atlas) came in with it's retail outlet...it was STEMPIAN Beverage. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4030 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.171.136.201 |
That would be Armenians running a pop factory. Only Detroit. Pure Detroit. jjaba, drinking a Frosty Hires. | ||
K8cpachuck Member Username: K8cpachuck Post Number: 18 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.40.45.171 |
"jjaba, Westsider, drinking a cold bottled Vernor's." Bleck! Nasty Stuff! Just the smell of it, makes me wanna heave my shoe soles up! Nastyness! I can handle root beer though. -Chuck | ||
Gary Member Username: Gary Post Number: 149 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 70.141.79.143 |
Good memories of Towne Club Black Cherry in one of those jelly glasses filled with ice after handling my paper route on a hot July afternoon. Toss in a bag of Big Boy potato chips and life just couldn't get any better. |
