Soda Pop Stop: 500 Flavors in One Store

Galco's Soda Pop Stop is a specialty store in Los Angeles that sells almost exclusively soda pop -- though there's also some candy and a deli counter tucked away in the back. I visited the store a few years ago, and came away with a variety of odd, exciting soda pop items, all in glass bottles (though they do carry a few cans). Predictably, I was able to drink about two bottles before I got sugared-out for the evening. But still, Galco's is an amazing place: a small, family-owned store that sells basically one kind of thing, just in 500 varieties.

The one thing they don't have is Pepsi. Owner John Nese gave me a lecture about that when I asked, and that lecture is reproduced verbatim in the 13-minute documentary below about the store. (It boils down to: Pepsi didn't offer a reasonable price to Nese's small store. And then there's the issue of high-fructose corn syrup, which you really don't want to get him started on.)

If you're in the LA area, you should check out the store (even though it's in a slightly sketchy neighborhood) and buy some unusual soda pop. If you dare, try the coffee soda. My advice is to ask Nese what he thinks is best for you -- or pick up a bottle and ask him about it -- you're guaranteed to get a good story. If you're anywhere else, enjoy this documentary about it and get a little taste of soda pop heaven:

Also note that you can order online from Galco's. So if something in the video tickles your fancy, get clicking!

(Via Kottke.org.)