(Spirit Lake)– Some big changes are coming for what’s been a historic fixture in downtown Spirit Lake.
Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company has announced the operations will be relocating to a newly constructed facility at the East Lake Industrial Park on the east edge of Spirit Lake. It’s slated to open in November of this year. A press release says all 36 employees with the Spirit Lake operations will relocate to the new facility in phases throughout November and December.
The Spirit Lake Distribution facility serves about 1,100 customers. Jeff Heinrichs, Atlantic Bottling Spirit Lake General Manager, says the new facility will allow them to better serve those customers through modernized operations. He says the relocation will also eliminate traffic congestion in the area of Jackson Avenue and Lake Street caused by trucks backing up to loading docks.
The Coca-Cola building at 18th Street and Jackson Avenue in Spirit Lake has stood since 1948. Atlantic Bottling has operated out of the facility in Spirit Lake since acquiring the territory in 2016 as part of Coca-Cola’s 2016 refranchising.
Officials with Atlantic Bottling say they are currently in talks with potential buyers to purchase or lease the current building in downtown Spirit Lake once the move is complete.
