1. Introduction to Detroit’s Pop Culture
Detroiters affectionately refer to their carbonated drinks as “pop,” establishing a unique identity within the beverage landscape.
2. The Origin of Soda Pop
Learn about Vernors Ginger Ale, famously created in Detroit, heralded as America’s first soda pop.
3. The Story Behind Faygo
Uncover the fascinating history of Faygo, from its humble beginnings to its popularity in the beverage industry.
4. Exploring Faygo’s Flavor Varieties
Dive into the extensive list of flavors that Faygo offers today, showcasing its impact on the soft drink market.
Detroiters know it as “pop,” but there are those from other locales that cringe and irritably add “soda” in correction. As it turns out, however, Detroit has a unique relationship with the carbonated brew that arguably gives the city naming rights.
The First Soda Pop
According to at least one source — Food Reference — Vernors Ginger Ale was the nation’s first soda pop, and it was discovered by accident in Detroit. As the story goes, James Vernor, a clerk in a drug store in Detroit, was experimenting with a recipe to make his own Ginger Ale, a non-alcoholic version of Ginger Beer imported from Ireland. When he went off to fight in the Civil War in 1862, he stored his experimental Ginger Ale in an oak cask. When he returned at war’s end, he sampled the now aged brew and knew he was on to something. He started selling it out of his own Woodward Avenue drug store in 1866.
The Term “Pop”
“Pop” is a term either used alone or teamed with soda to describe soft drinks/carbonated beverages. It was coined by Faygo, another Detroit-based bottling company, after the sound the lid made when it popped off the soda bottle.
Faygo History in Detroit
Bakers Ben and Perry Feigenson, Russian immigrants, first experimented in using their frosting flavors in sodas in 1907. Initially known as Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works, the brothers changed the name to Faygo in 1921 and used a Ford truck to deliver door to door. Faygo bottle works started off in a plant on Benton Street but moved to Gratiot Avenue in 1935, where it remains today. Despite its popularity in Detroit and Michigan, Faygo pop didn’t become popular nationally until the 1960s, when a new water filtration system at the plant improved its shelf life. The Boat Song, featured in 1970s commercials for Faygo, remains in the hearts of Detroiters to this day. It was originally called Remember When You Were a Kid?, written by Ed Labunaki, and originally sung for Faygo by Kenny Karen:
Comic books and rubber bands
Climb into the tree top
Falling down and holding hands
Tricycles and Redpop
Faygo Flavors
Faygo brought more than just the “pop” to the soft-drink industry. Faygo is known for its host of flavors, including RedPop and Rock’n’Rye, as well as its relatively affordable prices. These days flavors number over 50. In addition to diet flavors, other flavors include Root Beer, Cotton Candy, Orange, Candy Apple, Moon Mist, Creme Soda, 60/40, Black Cherry, Peach, Dr. Faygo, Gold, Twist, Pineapple Watermelon, Pineapple Orange, Jazzin’ Blues Berry, Raspberry Blueberry, Fruit Punch, Ohana Punch, Ohana Kiwi, and Sparkling Grapefruit — just to name a few.
