Memories of Brookdale Soda

... I should put in to collect hazard pay for attempting to put ice in my Brookdale soda.

Lately, as my adulthood approaches, I've flavored Kola flavor. It's not cola, or un-cola, it's Kola! And I think it tastes best with lots of ice in a tall glass.

Every time I open the freezer door, a rock hard package of Sara Lee's dessert crashes onto my bare feet.

I won't say I'm a slow learner, but after about the fourth time around, I tried moving back with the freezer door when I opened it for the ice.

Good idea, right? I thought so, but that crumb cake was smarter than that.

It waited until I stepped around to get the tray, then it crashed. I put some ice in a glass and the rest on my foot.

If it keeps up like this, the soda made from artesian well water may just be my downfall.

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Copyright © 2008 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

BROOKDALE SODA - LETTERS, WE GET LETTERS

I was looking for Brookdale Beverage stuff and your sight came up.

My father was the plant manager for Brookdale for as long as I can remember.

My brothers & sisters used to run around the plant while my father waited for his last driver(s) to come back to the plant.

Brookdale was part of so many families back then.

He was with them until shortly before they folded, he passed away.

If you know of anyone with Brookdale stuff for sale please E mail me
-- Diane

We got Diane's letter earlier this year.
It's been almost 30 years since we wrote Memories of Brookdale Soda. Who knew way back in July 1976 that those were just the beginning of memories of this and that?

Last August, early in our blog career, we posted Brookdale Soda - The Saga Continues as a continuation/update of what's been happening since the soda story came up on the Internet.

BROOKDALE SODA

Who could wait to drive
the family sedan or wagon
To the Brookdale soda depot
on 6th Street or Sylvan?
Empty cases in the trunk
Scooting through tree-lined streets
To the back yard driveway off
Sylvan Avenue in Bloomfield
or the Allwood Circle cross town
Or off to downtown at Heller/Heller
Grab a hand cart and an empty case
Splintering wood and later dark-blue plastic –
Go through the stacks of cases and fill them:

Birch beer – two or three, Kola, cream,
ginger ale, Cheers – don’t forget quinine too
Blood red cherry and cherry-pit, another birch
and fill it out with root beer, more Kola, too
and orange soda, cream, and bright green lemon-lime
Life never got any better than this,
and we wouldn’t know that for a long while

VISIT OUR BROOKDALE SODA BLOG

Copyright © 2006 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved.
Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Brookdale Soda - The Saga Continues

Pride of the Garden State

There ain't nothing in the world like washing down a Taylor ham sandwich with orange Brookdale soda.


Sometimes I get email that read something like this:

I just looked at your website. I have a bottle of Brookdale beverage (empty) and have always wondered about it. It is an 8 oz. bottle but does not say what beverage was in it. I am not sure where I obtained it but it had to be in Georgia or Texas. Can you give me any information

And, here's another one I just got:

Hi,
I was cleaning out my garage in preparation of razing it to build a new one. In the attic, I came across a blue plastic case from the Brookdale beverage company with 11 Brookdale Beverage empties (one missing). The bottles are in very good shape and the labels are all fairly bright and intact. Do you know where I could find an empty to complete the case?
Ther are 3 Colas,2 Orange,1 Black Cherry,1 Grape,2 Lemon-Lime and 2 Cheers Lemon-Lime.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely

So, what am I supposed to say?

VISIT OUR BROOKDALE SODA BLOG

LINKS
Memories of Brookdale Soda
Old Belleville version of above
The Kid Gets a Job (at Brookdale Soda - By Tom Garcia

The Bianco Lina Man - Old Newark Memories

Copyright © 2005 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

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