Dublin Residents in Disbelief Following Dublin Dr Pepper's Demise
By: Jessica Reyes
Updated: January 12, 2012
The death of Dublin Dr Pepper on January 11, 2012 marked the end of an era.
"It's like losing a member of the family. It hurts, bad," said Clay Estes, who lives in Dublin.
Dublin was the only place that still made Dr Pepper with the original Imperial cane sugar. The famous plant stopped production after a trademark dispute with Dallas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
The brand was much more than just a soda to the people of Dublin. The town's 120-year history with Dr Pepper put the small Texas town on the map, bringing in thousands of tourists each year.
"Such a great part of this area. We were just really disappointed," said Rachel Tait, who traveled to Dublin from Breckenridge to visit the plant's museum Thursday.
As of 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, the word "Dublin" was removed from all Dr Pepper signs, signifying the end of the historic brand.
"Dublin Dr Pepper has been taken away from us. It's like having our identity taken away from us," said Lisa Leatherwood, who runs a business in Dublin.
Now, many people in Dublin are boycotting the soda that was the town's lifeblood for more than a century.
"I didn't have a choice in what happened down the street. But in this store, my store, I have a choice. And I choose not to have Dr Pepper products in here anymore," Leatherwood said.
The plant sold out of the Dublin Dr Pepper bottles by 11:30 a.m. Thursday. They will continue to bottle other sodas under the name "Dublin Bottling Works."
"It's like losing a member of the family. It hurts, bad," said Clay Estes, who lives in Dublin.
Dublin was the only place that still made Dr Pepper with the original Imperial cane sugar. The famous plant stopped production after a trademark dispute with Dallas-based Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
The brand was much more than just a soda to the people of Dublin. The town's 120-year history with Dr Pepper put the small Texas town on the map, bringing in thousands of tourists each year.
"Such a great part of this area. We were just really disappointed," said Rachel Tait, who traveled to Dublin from Breckenridge to visit the plant's museum Thursday.
As of 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, the word "Dublin" was removed from all Dr Pepper signs, signifying the end of the historic brand.
"Dublin Dr Pepper has been taken away from us. It's like having our identity taken away from us," said Lisa Leatherwood, who runs a business in Dublin.
Now, many people in Dublin are boycotting the soda that was the town's lifeblood for more than a century.
"I didn't have a choice in what happened down the street. But in this store, my store, I have a choice. And I choose not to have Dr Pepper products in here anymore," Leatherwood said.
The plant sold out of the Dublin Dr Pepper bottles by 11:30 a.m. Thursday. They will continue to bottle other sodas under the name "Dublin Bottling Works."
