March 24, 2011

The Pop Shoppe















Originally opened in Ontario, Canada in 1969, The Pop Shoppe line of sodas started life as the star of The Pop Shoppe franchises located across Canada and a selection of states in the U.S. Many people recall the red plastic crates at the store that you could load up with 24 sodas in your favorite combination of flavors (of which The Pop Shoppe had plenty to spare, at one time boasting 26 different kinds!). Unfortunately, the advent of grocery-store brand sodas lead to the decline of The Pop Shoppe: it simply became easier to grab your soda at the same time you were getting your groceries, making a separate trip to The Pop Shoppe stores unnecessary. Accordingly, sales plummeted, and The Pop Shoppe called it quits in 1983 (a few independent stores tried to hang in there for a couple years, but none survived long).

Fortunately for fine soda lovers, entrepreneur Brian Alger began re-registering the trademarks for The Pop Shoppe sodas in 2002, and the brand was relaunched in Ontario, Canada in the summer of 2004. Starting small with just four flavors, Alger stretched the line-up to include eight of the original flavors once cola joined the group in 2006. In 2009--following months of rumors--the beloved stubby bottle made a return, rounding out the retro feel of The Pop Shoppe sodas (which already featured the original logo and recipes). 


The Pop Shoppe sodas are just starting to roll into the U.S., and Old 52 is excited to be among those carrying the full line-up of eight flavors! The flavors, available at our Sabin, Minnesota store and our online store, are:


Black Cherry: An authentic black cherry soda that leans toward the tart end of the spectrum, without having too much bite to make it an easy-drinking soda

Cola: As refreshing as it is delicious, with a rich cola taste that pairs well with anything

Cream Soda: This lipstick-pink soda tastes like velvet out of a bottle with its smooth mouthfeel and rich flavor

Grape: Packs a powerful grape punch without being too sweet

Lime Ricky: With an explosive citrus flavor to match its intense neon color, it's delicious on its own or as a mixer

Orange: Boasts a full-bodied orange taste, without that too-sweet, sticky mouthfeel some sodas have--guaranteed to remind you of the idle summers of your youth

Pineapple:The perfect blend of tang and fruit, you'll be looking for real chunks of pineapple floating in the bottle (but don't worry: there aren't any)

Root Beer: With a creamy flavor straight out of the bottle, this was highly praised during our The Pop Shoppe soda sampling at the office


All of the sodas are delicious (trust me: I tried each one several times!), and everyone at the office had a different favorite. Kelsie LOVED the root beer ("this is the best root beer ever!"), KayLynn was partial toward grape ("it's just a really good grape flavor"), and Chuck couldn't choose between orange or grape. 


My (Jess's) favorite was the cream soda because of its smooth vanilla flavor, although root beer was a close second: its taste reminded me of sitting on my grandpa's old green-and-gold floral print couch after a large Sunday supper--sipping on root beer--and watching wrestling on TV (before I was old enough to understand that it was all staged). The Pop Shoppe soda will do that to you: conjure up memories of yesteryear while quenching your thirst with a solid line-up of delicious flavors.



References:
The Pop Shoppe website
"The Pop Shoppe pops back" by Renee Alexander (via brandchannel)


2 comments:

  1. I love Pop Shoppe! Brought my empty bottles back from Canada and have them displayed in my kitchen. Glad to know they are making their way into the US.

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  2. I have hundreds of stubby and tall bottles, some are still full and capped, although the corn syrup has separated in most all of them. All are with the bright red cases, small and large. Interested? fordyacres@gmail.com

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