Iconic California Coca-Cola bottling plant closing after more than century

One of Ventura’s longest-running businesses is preparing to shut its doors for good after being tied to the local community for more than 100 years.Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling confirmed last week that its Ventura distribution and bottling facility will permanently close on July 10, ending a relationship between the seaside California city and Coca-Cola operations that stretch back to the early 1900s.The shutdown is expected to affect 85 workers, although the company says the majority of employees will be transferred to other Southern California facilities.“We regularly assess our locations, products and services to ensure we can continue driving sustainable growth and innovation across our business,” a spokesperson for Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling said in a statement emailed to SFGATE.“As such, we have announced the closure of our Ventura Distribution Center and the transfer of operations to our other Southern California facilities.”The company said July 10 will mark the plant’s final day of operations.“Eighty-five is the correct number of employees affected by the shift in operations,” the spokesperson added.

“Most (78) will be reassigned to other RCCB facilities.Additionally, affected employees have the option of applying for any open roles for which they are qualified within RCCB and our sister companies.”The closure marks the end of a decades-long chapter in Ventura’s manufacturing history.Coca-Cola’s roots in the city date back to 1912, when the first local bottling plant opened near Front Street, according to the Ventura County Star.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Over the years, the operation expanded and relocated several times as demand for soft drinks surged across the region.

By the 1950s, Ventura had become a notable hu...