Transformation Coming to the Old Coca-Cola Building in Billings

Some of you might remember the old Coca-Cola tagline, "Have a Coke and a smile." The company used the marketing slogan from 1979 to the early 1980s, and in a memorable TV commercial, they featured "Mean Joe Greene," where a young fan offers his Coke to the limping, post-game NFL star.

Smiles of a different sort will be coming soon to the former Coca-Cola building on 1st Ave South. The sprawling warehouse near the intersection of 1st Ave S and State Street will become the new home of Gratitude in Action.

Two Years Ago: Billings New Coca-Cola Plant Opens with Ribbon Cutting

Longtime locals know that before the building was affiliated with Coca-Cola, it was a Nehi soda facility and also served as an ice plant for the city and the railroad.

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Nehi bottles from the 1920s with "Billings" embossed in the glass can be found on eBay.

The Campus for Change is coming.

In a press release, Gratitude in Action announced plans to transform the building into its new home. The move and updates to the services they provide are substantial. The old Coke warehouse at 4151 First Avenue South will become GIA's Campus for Change. They wrote,

What was once part of an industrial revolution can now become part of a recovery evolution, where lives move forward, opportunity replaces despair, and community partners come together to help thousands of individuals rebuild stability, dignity, and hope.

The campus will bring together recovery housing support, workforce development, and social enterprise under one roof. The campus will also include the expanded GIA Thrift Store, a job training center, and social enterprises such as repair shops and hospitality training, providing real pathways to employment.

Want to help?

Volunteers are a big part of Gratitude in Action, and now more than ever, they could use your support to transform an old warehouse into something truly special. They need folks to assist with:

• Painting and light construction
• Cleaning and organizing spaces
• Moving furniture and equipment
• Sorting materials for remodel and reuse
• Basic repair and maintenance projects
• Landscaping and exterior clean-up

Call 406-696-8704 if you'd like to help.

Thank you, Rebecca Heimbuck, for the pictures of the old Coca-Cola building in this story. If you love Billings history, you should follow her wildly popular Facebook page, Billings, Montana as She Was and Is.