Dr. Brown’s
You can find Dr. Brown’s at delicatessens all around the country (not to mention upscale grocery stores and even in English-speaking neighborhoods of Israel). Before it had a global presence, it was a New York City notion. Its invention goes back to 1869 and a nerve tonic formula, credited to the original Dr. Brown.
Dry Cleaning
Thomas L. Jennings (1791–1856) has the distinction of the first Black person to hold a US patent. That patent is for dry cleaning, a process he invented based on concerns from his customers at his Church Street clothing store. His patent was issued on March 3, 1821.
Diet Soda
The diet soda industry is good for $5 billion in annual sales, but 70 or so years ago it didn’t even exist. Credit for the innovation goes to New York City, Brooklyn to be precise and Kirsch Beverages, Inc. Hyman Kirsch had been selling sodas for decades when he noticed the need for sugar-free, non-alcoholic drinks for diabetic patients. With his son Morris, he came up with a formula, which soon enough was marketed for its calorie-free aspect. In 1952, they began selling the first diet soda, a ginger ale flavor that was soon followed by several others.
Source: “Made In NYC,” by Ethan Wolff, March 2024, City Guide New York
Contributed by Bobbie Roggemann