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The Faygo Book
The Faygo Book is the social history of a company that has forged a bond with a city and its residents for more than a century. The story of Faygo, Detroit's beloved soda pop, begins over a hundred years ago with two Russian immigrant brothers who were looking to get out of the baking business. Starting with little more than pots, pails, hoses, and a one-horse wagon, Ben and Perry Feigenson reformulated cake frosting recipes into carbonated beverage recipes and launched their business in the middle of the 1907 global financial meltdown. It was an improbable idea. Through recessions and the Great Depression, wartime politics, the rise and fall of Detroit's population, and the never-ending challenges to the industry, the Feigensons persisted. Out of more than forty bottlers in Detroit's "pop alley," Faygo remained the last one standing.
Within the pages of The Faygo Book, author Joe Grimm carefully measures out the ingredients of a successful beverage company in spite of dicey economic times in a boom-and-bust town. Take a large cup of family—when the second generation of Feigensons gambled with the chance at national distribution while the odds were stacked against them—and add a pinch of innovation—not just with their rambunctious rainbow of flavors but with packaging and television advertising that infused Faygo with nostalgia. Mix in a quality product-award-winning classics (and some flops) that they insisted on calling "pop," despite the industry's plea for a more grown-up name. Stir in a splash of loyalty to its locally hired employees, many of whom would stay with Faygo for decades. These are the values on which Faygo has hung its hat for generations, making it an integral part of communities across the country.
The Faygo Book is the story of a pop, a people, and a place. These stories and facts will tickle the taste buds and memories of Detroiters and Faygo lovers everywhere.
Within the pages of The Faygo Book, author Joe Grimm carefully measures out the ingredients of a successful beverage company in spite of dicey economic times in a boom-and-bust town. Take a large cup of family—when the second generation of Feigensons gambled with the chance at national distribution while the odds were stacked against them—and add a pinch of innovation—not just with their rambunctious rainbow of flavors but with packaging and television advertising that infused Faygo with nostalgia. Mix in a quality product-award-winning classics (and some flops) that they insisted on calling "pop," despite the industry's plea for a more grown-up name. Stir in a splash of loyalty to its locally hired employees, many of whom would stay with Faygo for decades. These are the values on which Faygo has hung its hat for generations, making it an integral part of communities across the country.
The Faygo Book is the story of a pop, a people, and a place. These stories and facts will tickle the taste buds and memories of Detroiters and Faygo lovers everywhere.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
135 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Joe Grimm
12 books4 followersGrimm, a lifelong Detroit area resident, is a journalism professor at Michigan State University. With his students or by himself, he has published more than 20 books.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 2, 2019
This was an interesting and informative read sharing a lot I hadn't known about Faygo. It also provided a nostalgic walk down memory lane! I remember getting cases of Faygo glass bottles, selecting our favorite flavors as a kid for the summertime. This is a quick and easy read about a Michigan icon that is revered to this day!
February 22, 2023
My one complaint was that I wished the book was longer! I held off purchasing till it showed up at a used book sale. I couldn't justify purchasing it for the small size when the title first came out.
I've grown up with Faygo, so I was already familiar with the brand and its different flavors as they are now. My family has also lived in Southeast Michigan for a long time, to the point where I can remember my great-grandparents' favorite Faygo flavor (they always kept Orange Pop in the fridge). Personally, I am a Diet Rock & Rye woman while the majority of my immediate family favors Red Pop.
I loved seeing the development of the company and its evolution over time. Additionally, the various illustrations were delightful. I felt they helped a lot with visualizing the various advertisements and people discussed. I won't lie, I also cackled at the mention of Homestuck. The only reason my internet friends knew about Faygo was because of the webcomic, and their jealousy that I had Faygo in my area gave me nerd cred.
I've grown up with Faygo, so I was already familiar with the brand and its different flavors as they are now. My family has also lived in Southeast Michigan for a long time, to the point where I can remember my great-grandparents' favorite Faygo flavor (they always kept Orange Pop in the fridge). Personally, I am a Diet Rock & Rye woman while the majority of my immediate family favors Red Pop.
I loved seeing the development of the company and its evolution over time. Additionally, the various illustrations were delightful. I felt they helped a lot with visualizing the various advertisements and people discussed. I won't lie, I also cackled at the mention of Homestuck. The only reason my internet friends knew about Faygo was because of the webcomic, and their jealousy that I had Faygo in my area gave me nerd cred.
February 20, 2019
I really enjoyed this book because it brought back memories of growing up. Faygo was a treat in our house. This book tells the story fo the brothers who were bakers, changing their professions to pop makers. They created new flavors as well as popularizing the word pop when others scorned the word. Faygo stayed in Detroit, employed Detroiters and supported Detroit projects. They also with the Doner Advertising Company created some of the more iconic commercials in Detroit. As I read about the commercials, I remembered many of the commercials. The book also has several quizzes about Faygo that were fun to take.
Good book especially for Detroit's.
Good book especially for Detroit's.
July 28, 2019
Fun, informative book on everyone's beloved Faygo pop! I needed a book with a "Michigan sticker" on it for our local library's summer reading Bingo, and I was excited to see this on the new books shelf. It is a fun read for any Michigander, Faygo lover or just pop lover in general. Lots of fun pictures, the history of their advertising, and history of the company and their Detroit ties. I loved the fun "Pop Quiz" at the end of each chapter, and the whole long list of flavors was fun to read, too! I'd say my favorite flavors are a tie between Rock and Rye and Cream Soda, but either way, they're best from a cold glass bottle. ;)
January 20, 2019
Faygo Pop is the flavorful carbonated beverage Michigan natives expect to see at every gas station and party store. Joe Grimm chronicles the history of the pop and how it took over the Mitten State. As a Michigan East-Sider, I've driven by the Faygo Factory in Detroit more times than I can count. So many delicious flavors to choose from, this is a staple drink for us! I really loved all the pictures and the fun "pop-quizzes" thrown in at the end of every chapter.
March 5, 2019
I feel like I have loved Faygo my whole life. This book evokes so much nostalgia, just love the photographs of Faygo artifacts and reprints of old advertisements... it is a quick read and fun with the quizzes peppered throughout- not at all serious, but it has a bibliography that is sure to turn out some great reading material about Detroit's most recent past. Faygo's Pineapple flavor is best frozen in your own popsicle mold.
November 10, 2018
Excellent. Very informative about Faygo, the pop industry and Detroit. Loved learning about Faygo and it's history in Detroit. Well written, very colorful and I loved the "pop quizzes" at the end of each chapter.
October 9, 2018
Super fun history of the second most beloved pop in Michigan (after Vernor's, of course). Beautiful book design, with excellent illustrations.
January 9, 2019
Fun and interesting. Made me want some Faygo lol
May 12, 2019
Wonderful, upbeat story
I’ve lived in the Detroit area all my life. This book was a trip down memory lane. I still drink Faygo!
I’ve lived in the Detroit area all my life. This book was a trip down memory lane. I still drink Faygo!
June 19, 2019
I never knew so much about Faygo! Love the history, huge fan of trivia.
June 19, 2019
This is a neat book about Faygo soda.
September 26, 2019
An interesting book. It was nice to read about Michigan history
September 13, 2020
Faygo was a Detroit institution! Lovely reminder of what it was like in Detroit back in the day!
April 22, 2024
"Faygo did not invent Rock & Rye. Wegener's of Detroit made a Rock & Rye in 1885...Rock & Rye was modeled after America's first bottled cocktail. Rye whiskey, being harsher than whiskeys made primarily from barley and corn, was sometimes smoothed out with crystalized sugar, called rock candy. That's where the drink Rock & Rye comes from."
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews