Remember when Friday nights meant walking the aisles of Blockbuster, picking out a movie and hoping your favorite wasn't already rented?
On this day in 1985, the first Blockbuster opened in Dallas, Texas, kicking off a video rental phenomenon that became a staple of American life.
The store launched with roughly 8,000 VHS tapes and eventually grew into a worldwide entertainment giant, before streaming and changing technology helped bring the Blockbuster era to an end.
Today, only one Blockbuster store is still standing.
Swipe through the iconic Blockbuster era.
PEPSI IS REALLY NOT OK NOW.
Last week Pepsi's CEO said he does "not feel good about the beverage business."
This week he feels worse.
KFC is dumping Pepsi. After nearly 40 years. All 3,700 U.S. restaurants switch to Coca-Cola starting in January, done by spring.
Forty years. PepsiCo literally OWNED KFC once. They bought the Colonel in 1986. And the Colonel just walked out with Coke.
Somewhere in Kentucky, eleven secret herbs and spices are breathing a sigh of relief. They have waited four decades to be paired with a decent beverage.
And it's not just the Colonel. Costco switched its food courts back to Coke this year after more than a decade of Pepsi. That $1.50 hot dog finally gets the drink it deserves. Dunkin' left Pepsi back in 2012. The exits are getting crowded.
So who's still standing with Pepsi? Taco Bell. PepsiCo just renewed that deal.
Which makes perfect sense. Taco Bell's core customer is the 1 a.m. walk-of-shame crowd. These people have bigger problems than the soda logo. They're in last night's outfit, one shoe, no phone charger, trying to remember a name. A Pepsi is the least questionable decision they've made in six hours.
Nobody in that drive-thru is asking "Is Pepsi OK?" They're asking "Am I OK?" The answer to both is no, but at least the Crunchwrap is warm.
Now let's take attendance. Here's where you can get a real Coke:
McDonald's. The holy grail. That fountain Coke hits different, and everyone knows it.
Wendy's.
Burger King.
Chick-fil-A. Closed Sundays, Coke every other day.
Popeyes. Coke AND better chicken sandwiches. Sorry, Colonel. Welcome to the club.
Five Guys.
In-N-Out.
Whataburger. Texas does it right.
Raising Cane's.
Domino's.
Dunkin'.
Costco.
And starting next spring, KFC.
And that's not counting every diner, ballpark and grandma's fridge in America.
Pepsi had one job. Be the other cola. Now it's barely that.
Coke is life. Pepsi is a waiter asking "Is Pepsi OK?"
The answer was no on Tuesday. It's still no on Saturday. And now even the Colonel agrees. ๐ฅค๐
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