Coca Cola in Suffolk

Alonzo F. Cathey was running a country store near Paw Creek, NC, in 1903, when someone suggested that he go in the business of bottling soft drinks-it might be a place where money could be made.

A. F. Cathey bought the Coca Cola franchise in Roanoke, VA, in 1905 and that very year he went to Norfolk to buy a Norfolk company that had opened in 1901.

Meanwhile W. S. Cross and his brothers, M. A. and Harry Lee, had come to Suffolk from Sunbury, NC, to take advantage of the business opportunities offered in the bustling little city. W. S. Cross bottled some fruit flavored drinks for a while before buying the Coca Cola franchise in 1906. His brother Harry Lee ran the business for several years.

In 1923 the Catheys decided to open a new plant in Suffolk. A. F. Cathey's son, Lewis, came to Suffolk and built a bottling plant on E. Washington Street in the block just over the Norfolk and Western Railroad from downtown.

By 1930 business was so good that another plant was needed. Suffolk Coca Cola built a two-story bottling plant on S. Saratoga Street. The plant served the territory of Surry, Wakefield, Isle of Wight, Franklin, Nansemond County, Suffolk and two counties in North Carolina. That plant suffered two fires and was eventually demolished.

In 1941 the Catheys built another more modern plant at 1030 W. Washington Street. Cokes were bottled at 140-150 bottles per minute. Eight delivery trucks, and four others just for vending machines, served the territory. The real importance here for many of our readers was the second floor space that held a large reception room that could be used for public functions, notably dances for high school students.

In 1971 bottling was stopped at this plant and the building was used as a warehouse and distribution plant until 1976 when a new building was built to serve that purpose in the Wilroy Industrial Park. The 1941 building became part of the Lipton Tea operation.

Norfolk Coca Cola had plants in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Exmore and Gloucester and subleased Emporia and Elizabeth City plants at one time.

Lewis Cathey died in 1958. That year his son Forrest became Vice President of Norfolk Coca Cola. He managed the Suffolk and Portsmouth plants until 1980. The business was sold in 1977 to Cross Bottling Company of Richmond. Information thanks to Forrest Cathey, Alma Cross Duke, Betty Cross Pretlow and William Cross.

This is an excerpt from an article that appeared in the July 2008 issue of the Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society's newsletter. Copies of this and other back issues are available for sale at the Suffolk Station Railroad Museum.

SUFFOLK NANSEMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
P.O. Box 1255
Suffolk, Virginia 23439-1255

Phone (757)539-2781
Email: snhs@verizon.net