A new Coca-Cola manufacturing facility in Billings, Montana is set to have its grand opening soon. The $100 million facility, which is the largest capital investment for Coca-Cola High Country company, was recently toured by Governor Greg Gianforte and other City of Billings and Yellowstone County leaders. The facility will bring in 50 new jobs and will allow for the production, sale, and distribution of Coca-Cola products all in one place. Despite facing some obstacles, the plant was able to establish itself with the support of the city of Billings and Coca-Cola High Country Bottling company. Governor Gianforte sees this as a positive step for Montana's local economy [636b742a].
In other news, Francis Ford Coppola's All-Movie Hotel, located in Peachtree City, Georgia, is set to open on July 25. The hotel, which was originally a Days Inn motel, has been transformed into a hybrid property with post-production facilities, editing suites, recording rooms, and screening spaces. The hotel features props from Coppola's films, including The Godfather, and offers 27 rooms with prices ranging from $170 to $470 per night. Coppola himself, along with actor Adam Driver, stayed in rooms that will soon be available to guests. The All-Movie Hotel aims to provide a space where filmmakers can immerse themselves in the creative process and foster a collaborative environment. Georgia has become a top production hub, and the All-Movie Hotel is seen as a valuable addition to the state's infrastructure for the film industry [70e61a13].
Meanwhile, the original World of Coca-Cola museum in downtown Atlanta is being demolished by Georgia's state government to convert the site into a parking lot. The building, which opened in 1990, was bought by the state government from Coca-Cola in 2005 for $1 million. It has been vacant since Coca-Cola moved out in 2007. The demolition is necessary to create new parking space due to the construction of a new legislative office building. The demolition is projected to be complete by August 1, 2024, and will cost just under $1.3 million [8da93290].
Demolition work has also begun at the site of the World Peace Bell in Newport, Kentucky. The $20 million redevelopment plan includes the construction of two hotels, office space, and a parking garage. The developer, Shaun Pan, will be developing two Hilton brands, TRU and Home 2 Suites, in the area. As part of the redevelopment, the 33-ton World Peace Bell will be temporarily moved to a property owned by Maxim Crane Works in Wilder. The permanent location for the bell has not yet been finalized. The project is expected to bring renewed vibrancy to Newport's urban core [e0d16450].