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Jacobs’ Pharmacy – the site of the first Coca-Cola sale – was founded in 1879 by Dr. Joseph Jacobs. The downtown Five Points space quickly became one of the city’s most popular pharmacies – which, back then, were more like general stores that also sold medicine.
Atlantans came not only for the soda fountain, which averaged $150 a day in sales, but also for the discounted items. In fact, Jacobs’ was one of the first retailers to use discounts as a selling strategy.
Dr. Jacobs eventually became Atlanta’s most successful drug store owner, owning eight stores at the time of his death.
Please see related story “Coke Celebrates 130 Years” in last week’s issue.
– Caroline Parsley, The 100 Companies
3 comments
I worked for Jacobs Pharmacy on Memorial Drive at the Parkview Shopping Center back in 1958 and 1959, there was also a location at Five Points at Marietta Street & Whitehall also another Beside the Fox Theater on Peachtree Street.
The first coca-cola sale was in Columbus GA. End of story.
https://www.historiccolumbus.com/columbus-soft-drink-heritage
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/georgia/coca-cola-invented-charming-house-ga-1800s/amp/
My Uncle Ben Kennon was a pharmacist at the little 5 points location of Jacobs back in the 30’s and 40’s. He placed a piece of fatback by the cash register at the store in a bottle of Coca-Cola and in a week the fatback had been totally dissolved. My uncle Pen was not a fan of Coca-Cola because he believed it would destroy your stomach lining.