Southern Coffee Roasting and Packing Plant - 1919

The Plant of the Cheek-Neal Coffee Company of Richmond, VA, One of the Four Up-To-Date Coffee Roasting and Packing Plants of Noted Southern Concern. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID # 1635df2d0e

FOUR years ago. last October, the Cheek-Neal Coffee Co. opened a branch in Richmond. VA. This plant soon became too small and additional room was rented. During the latter part of 1919. 

it was very urgent that more room be procured, and this company immediately took steps to build their own plant regardless of the fact that building conditions at that time were almost hopeless.

A lot located on the main line of the Southern Railway was secured and plans drawn up. immediately thereafter. for a modern factory and warehouse. Actual construction was begun in December. 1919. but the factory was not completed until November. 1920. taking nearly a year to complete, due to scarcity of materials. etc.

This factory is of reinforced concrete construction of the flat slab type and has a carrying capacity of 100 lbs. per square foot on each floor. Every detail has been looked after with the utmost care and it is believed to be as complete as any coffee plant in the United States. 

It has 40,000 sq. ft. of floor space and has a capacity of 30,000 lbs. of roasted coffee per day. with provision for double this capacity when required.

The machinery in the roasting room was installed by Jabez Burns & Sons. New York, who also furnished the grinding equipment with the exception of one “Ideal” steel-cut machine installed by the B. F. Gump Co. of Chicago. The daily grinding capacity is 20.000 lbs. of which 13.000 pounds is steel-cut coffee with chaff removed.

All the weighing machines were furnished by the National Packaging Machinery Co. Jamaica Plain. Boston. Mass. and include two gravity feed and two power automatic scales for weighing pulverized and time ground cofiee.
Excellent accommodations have been pro— vided for all employees. and their comfort and welfare have been looked after in every department.

The Roasting Room Has Two Small Jubilee Roasters with Flexarm Coolers, Etc., and Complete Machinery for Milling and Mixing Green Coffee. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID # 1635f56c10

The Packaging Room for Coffee and Tea Has Several Scott Weighing Machines. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID # 1636119634

Views of Richmond Plant of Cheek-Neel Coffee Co.

Sample Testing Room, Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, Richmond, VA. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID # 163651cc69

Welfare and Rest Room for Women Employees, Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, Richmond, VA. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID # 1636620b61

Manager's Private Office, Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, Richmond, VA. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID # 16367ccb0b

View of General Offices, Cheek-Neal Coffee Company, Richmond, VA. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID # 16369d6188

“Ideal” Steel-Cut Coffee Mill (S. F. Gump Co., Chicago) in Richmond Plant of Cheek-Neal Coffee Co. Everything Shown Except Elevators. The Spice Mill, April 1921. GGA Image ID #

The Check—Neal Coffee Co. operates similar plants in Nashville. Houston. And Jacksonville. Other plants are contemplated in the near future. “Maxwell House” coffee is the leading brand produced by this firm, but many other brands are distributed to the trade in over 30 States now covered by their sales force of 91 men.

"One of the Four Up-To-Date Coffee Roasting and Packing Plants of Noted Southern Concern, " in The Spice Mill: Devoted to the Interests of the Coffee Tea & Spice Trades, New York: The Spice Mill Publishing Company, Vol. XLIV, No. 4, April 1921, pp. 576-579.