Pepsi-Cola began in New Bern in 1898, when pharmacist Caleb Bradham turned his drugstore drink into a brand. The present Pepsi Store sits at the downtown corner associated with that story, selling fountain drinks, old signs, and enough soda memorabilia to make the stop fun rather than dutiful.
It is a quick visit, but a good one. New Bern's colonial history is serious; this is the lighter local claim to fame, and it fits neatly into a walk between Middle Street and the waterfront.