JOHNSON CITY CUSTOM CANNERS

While researching the Nehi / Royal Crown Bottling Company of Johnson City history I ran across an odd occurrence in the city directories that I did not understand at that time so I just decided to omit it; however, new information has come to light that demands that I take another look at that odd entry. In the 1972 Johnson City Directory, Royal Crown Bottling Company is listed as having moved to Mountain View Road, and had taken over the Dr. Pepper franchise after the demise of the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company of Johnson City.(1)

While visiting with Geff Moore I was shown a steel soda can with the name Fontana Grape on it which bore the inscription "Custom Beverage Packers Johnson City, TN 37601" on the side. He also owned a Royal Crown and Nehi Root Beer can attributed to the "Royal Crown Bottling Company Johnson City, TN". After taking pictures and what information I could glean from the cans, I was researching in the Kingsport Library's Microfilm collection and decided to see if there was anything on the company. I ran across an ad for Johnson City Custom Canners at Rt. 3 Mountain View Road, Johnson City, Tenn. From the August 29, 1971 Kingsport Times-News.

While discussing the ad with a very happy Geff Moore, I realized that the ad was more than I had first imagined. It was another piece in the puzzle of what happened to Royal Crown in that 1972 city directory listing. As you can see in the ad below one of the brands listed is indeed Dr. Pepper. This is because according to a December 23, 1968 Johnson City Press news article Royal Crown Bottling Company had bought the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company from George and Robert Sampson, and would be keeping the Dr. Pepper and Diet Dr. Pepper brands.(2) It must have been short lived because according to a blurb in the July 7, 1972 Johnson City Press Rice Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company had acquired the Dr. Pepper franchise for the Johnson City area.(2)

Seeing as the 1970 city directory lists Royal Crown as being on West Market Street, I would appear that the operation of the canning / bottling venture would be during the period from 1970 to 1975(1) when they are back at the original Market Street location. This period of time might have been much shorter due to their losing the Dr. Pepper franchise which appears to have spawned this growth spurt in 1972.

The August 29, 1971 ad from the Kingsport Times News.

This is the Fontana Grape can meantioned above.

A Royal Crown Cola can from the Royal Crown Bottling Company of Johnson City, TN

A Nehi Root Beer can from the Royal Crown Bottling Company of Johnson City, TN

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