Sweet Aroma Café is proud of its local roots in Tullahoma. TN truly “Tennessee’s rising star” from being named as the number one micro-politan city in Tennessee for 2007. The Café is located in the historic Coca-Cola Bottling plant. The bottling opened in August of 1941. At this time the facility was at the brink of modern technology. The building was even considered a bomb shelter during WWII. Coca-Cola out grew the bottling plant in 1973. In 2000 Russ Credle bought the building, and began plans to renovate it. The Café became a vital beat in the building’s heart in 2005. The café area was a part of the bottling room. In that time era, facilities such as this were designed as show places. As a result, large picture windows surround the north and east sides of the bottling room.
As you take a tour of the Coker facility, you can identify some of the bottling operations by the titles on entry doors throughout the premises and see various items of interest relative to Tullahoma, Tennessee’s history.
Sweet Aroma Café and “The Shoppes at Cokers” have been featured in the November 2006 issue of Southern Living Magazine as a highlight of Tennessee and on September 13, 2007 Rob Wilds of Tennessee Crossroads met the man who wouldn’t let an old Coke bottling plant fall victim to the wrecking ball.
If you are looking for a day trip, Sweet Aroma Café will be your stop for “Good Coffee… Good Food…Good Company” as your visit begins to the numerous attractions and activities that are treasured on the Highland Rim and rolling hills of Middle Tennessee.
Coca Cola Bottling Building History
Restored to “The Shoppes at Cokers”
Built by Jordan G. and Charlotte H. Ennis and John I. Holland, the facility bottled Coca-Cola for the first time on August 16th, 1941. At that time the bottling operation was considered state of the art with a capacity of one hundred and twenty bottles of six-ounce cokes per minute. At the height of production it employed twenty-five employees and operated twenty-four hours a day, six days a week. Due to the expanding product lines offered by Coca-Cola, the facility became inadequate to meet the expanding production requirements and bottled Coca-Cola for the last time in October of 1973.
Tullahoma, Tennessee and Surrounding Attractions
In the area surrounding what is now known as Tullahoma, there was evidence of Indian villages dating before the Revolutionary War. Historians have noted that the area was very desirable as a hunting ground for the Indians. In Tullahoma’s neighboring City of Manchester, TN, Old Stone Fort State Park is located with many artifacts and American Indian facts relative to the area.
The City of Tullahoma began as a railroad camp during construction of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway; it was chartered in 1852. We celebrated our 150th anniversary as a city in 2002. Since it was chartered, Tullahoma has been a health resort, a steadily growing industrial center, the site of a large infantry training center (Camp Forrest) during World War II, and now, headquarters for the world's largest aeronautical research project - Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC).
The Civil War and its aftermath contributed to the city's growth; and by 1900, the population had reached 2,684. With its climate, altitude, and nearby mineral springs, Tullahoma gained a reputation as a health resort and truck farming area. The population rose to more than 4,000 in less than 10 years. Growth was stable and industrial development continued during the period between the two World Wars.
The biggest development happened in 1949 with the selection of Camp Forrest as the site of the multi-million dollar Arnold Engineering Development Center. This permanent aeronautical research testing center has brought thousands of new residents, including scientists, engineers, skilled technicians and their families to Tullahoma, from all over the world.
With the growth of Tullahoma, Tennessee the citizen began building a quality of life to surpass the norm for rural communities, whether it is technology, culture, historical preservation or family fun. The arts are plentiful with South Jackson Civic Center, Community Playhouse performing arts and music and Tullahoma Fine Arts Center. Indoor and Outdoor activities include Imagination Station, Short Springs Nature Trail, C. D. Stamps and D. W. Wilson Community Center and Senior Citizens Center, and Hands on Science Center. The community has invested in treasuring history with featuring the Tullahoma history at the Mitchell Museum located at South Jackson Civic Center and Beechcraft Heritage Museum, home for many Beechcraft and Staggerwing aircraft.
With the growth of industry became the need of technology and education. Tullahoma became the location of University of Tennessee Space Institute and Motlow State Community College.
As Tullahoma citizens were developing their local community the surrounding communities were making their mark in history with attractions and industry. Within approximately 13 miles either North, South, East or West, you can find numerous activities and sites to visit.
Whether it is land, lake, golf or all of it, you are close to it all with the Old Stone Fort State Park in Manchester, TN, Tim Ford State Park in Winchester, TN, Normandy Lake State Park and Fish Reserve in Normandy, and Wood’s Reservoir located with AEDC Air Force and Wind Tunnel Research in Tullahoma.
Horses and history are directly north of Tullahoma. The historic Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville, TN is home to The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration®, which takes place each year in late summer for the 11 days ending on the Saturday night before Labor Day.
Music and festivals are definitely not left out. Manchester, TN has quickly become known from around the world as the home of Bonnaroo Music Festival held in June of each year. Seasons and reasons are celebrated in Tullahoma and all neighboring cities such as Jack Daniel’s International BBQ Festival in Lynchburg, TN. Calsonic Area Concerts in Shelbyville, Tennessee, Bell Buckle Tennessee Art and Crafts Festival, George Dickel Distillery Music Concerts and gatherings.
