Texas couple create Coca-Cola sanctuary with record-breaking 7,000 pieces of memorabilia

Absolutely drenched in the red-and-white blur of the branding on its bottles and billboards, the spare room of Bardo and Olga Cuellar’s home in Humble, Texas, USA is like a museum dedicated to Coca-Cola – stocked with shelves full of unopened soda containers and merchandise in every shape and form.

Spanning from vending machines to cookware, cookie jars and vintage signs – as well as a whole lot of bottles and cans – the space is covered from floor to ceiling with the iconic script of the soda company’s logo, from every era of its drink-making history. 

For the last three decades, the pair has been collecting the brand’s merchandise as a hobby, carefully placing new items on to their shelves until eventually it had gotten large enough to take up its own bedroom. 

With an incredible total of 7,099 items, the Cuellars (all USA) grew confident that they could take the title for the largest collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia on Earth – and on 5 August last year, all their hopes had officially paid off. 

They had nearly 1,500 more unique objects in their collection than previous record holder Debbie Indicott (USA), who was verified just a few months prior in Lenoir, North Carolina.

“I never set out to break a record – I just loved collecting Coca-Cola items,” said Bardo. “Over three decades, my collection grew through antique shops, eBay, Hobby Lobby, and gifts from friends and family.

“Eventually, it became large enough that my family helped prepare it for a Guinness World Records submission!”

Read more stories about record-breaking items in our dedicated Collections section!

The first time Bardo ever connected with a piece of Coke memorabilia, it was 1997, and the couple were buying a ceramic four piece Coca-Cola canister set as a gift for a friend’s birthday. 

He liked it so much he bought one himself, and the pair said: “the rest is history!” 

Many of the items they keep have been gifted, but the Cuellars also enjoy the hunt – looking for vintage signs that hang on the walls of resale shops, or sorting through old bottle caps looking for unique variations of the familiar logo. 

They even involved their whole family with the game, bringing the gang along on the search for merch. 

Their daughter, Samantha, also volunteered to help the pair with the inventory checklist for the record submission, dedicatedly taking pictures and cataloging thousands of pieces of specialty products.

“As a family, we spend much of our free time visiting antique shops, flea markets, and specialty stores in search of rare or meaningful items to add to the collection,” they said.

And of all the significant finds in their collection, the couple had to admit that one was their favourite: a vintage Coca-Cola Original Westinghouse Ice Cooler from 1939.

“Not only is it a beautifully preserved piece of history, but it also serves as a symbol of the collection’s authenticity and depth,” they said. “Its presence is a centrepiece in the room, and a constant reminder of the joy this collection brings.”

By the time the Cuellars were ready to submit their collection to GWR, they needed someone to witness their count… and who better than their fellow members of the Lone Star State chapter of the Coca-Cola Collector’s Club?

On Tuesday, 5 August, some participants from the club took a field trip out to their home, and spent “hours of fun” admiring all the family’s hard work to their inventory and collection. 

“Sorry, but these photos do not do this well-displayed collection justice,” they enthusiastically said. “Not only does Bardo have an incredible collection of original advertising and Coke memorabilia pieces, he has also crafted a number of unique items himself.”

And with the rapt attention from the club, Bardo and Olga walked the group through every item in the room, carefully displaying each piece for the camera as evidence for when they vied for the record.

“This record submission is a celebration of nearly three decades of collecting, curating, and preserving the legacy of one of the world’s most iconic brands,” Bardo said.

And it’s clear from the thoughtful organization and dedicated upkeep of the room that Bardo isn’t doing it alone – his entire family has helped nurture this passion as well, working together to assemble the red-and-white collection deserving of a record. 

So congratulations to Bardo and Olga, and the rest of their record-breaking family – you are all Officially Amazing!