Leading down to Marylee Brygger’s basement, a sign above the door reads, “Yes, we’re open. Enjoy Coke.” At the flip of a switch, track lights with red domes illuminate a Coca-Cola wonderland.
When Brygger and her husband moved into the Morningside condo 10 years ago, they committed to the theme right down to the black-and-white tile floor.
Part of the entertainment space mimics a diner that only serves Coke, of course, mixed with a museum. Plexiglass protects a wall covered with Coca-Cola ads torn from the pages of Life magazine and National Geographic, providing a backdrop to silver-trimmed tables and chairs.
Brygger’s collection contains cookie jars, countless tins, lots of clocks, handcrafted airplanes made from Coca-Cola cans, plates, plush polar bears and more.
Above the kitchenette counter, her last name is spelled out in red neon lights – a surprise from her husband.
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The Coca-Cola collectibles capture the spirit of so-called simpler times. Brygger, who graduated from East High School in 1960, remembers a decade of poodle skirts, bobby socks and diners.
“I’ve become very fond of that look, that ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll,” she said. “It’s the era I grew up in, the best era ever.”
She can’t quite recall how the collection started. The best she can do is point to a trip about 25 years ago.
Brygger and her husband visited a mining town in the Colorado mountains. Cripple Creek was a tourist destination, almost like a ghost town, she said. They went into a little junk shop, and Brygger found a vintage bottle-shaped door handle.
She bought it and thought, “I’ve got a real treasure.”
Later, when she looked through a collector’s book, it was nowhere to be found in those pages. Even though it might not be an authentic Coca-Cola product, it’s her favorite piece.
“That’s one of the first I found,” she said.
Once she had a few items, friends and family members just kept feeding her fascination.
A friend of her husband’s once owned a Coca-Cola collection. When he wanted to downsize, he let Brygger come and pick what she wanted. Her father crafted wooden Coca-Cola shelves to display the mementos. A former boss found the red-and-white Coke-themed tables and chairs in a merchandising catalog.
She owns cans and bottles from all over the world – China, Mexico, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Israel. An F16 pilot friend brought back ones from the Middle East.
When the Bryggers host parties, some ornery guests add “ornaments” to the Coca-Cola themed Christmas tree that she leaves up all year. She has found blue cans stashed in the branches of her artificial evergreen. Pepsi products. How dare they? Especially when there’s a functioning vintage Coke vending machine that dispenses glass bottles of soda for 25 cents.
“I don’t collect anymore,” she said. “People still give me stuff.”
Over the years, she picked up plenty of souvenirs on trips with her husband. Collecting the pieces from antique stores gave her something to look for when they traveled. Appealing to her love of the ‘50s, they often ate at diners along the way. Back in Sioux City, they enjoy going to Archie’s on West Seventh Street. And she likes to tune in to “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” on the Food Network.
So when did Brygger stop collecting? “When I ran out of space,” she said.
Friends continue to think of her when they go to garage sales, though. They’ll call, saying, “I’m on such and such a street, and there’s this Coca-Cola thing. Hurry up, get down here.”
She stays home.
