After years of going through thousands of plastic seltzer bottles, my husband put the foot down. He wanted to switch to tap water. Water? I don’t like water. I need my seltzer!
So, I did what my mom did back when I was growing up. I called the Seltzer Man. Yeah, he still exists.
Now, it’s a bit pricier than the Vintage variety, but the bottles keep the fizz. Plus, knowing that I’m not single-handedly destroying Planet Earth with my carbonated drink addiction is priceless. The cost for Bed Stuy delivery is $25 per case of 10. It’s only $1 per bottle to schlepp to the factory in Canarsie for pick up, but Narsie? No, thanks.
Gomberg Seltzer Works is the last remaining seltzer factory in NYC and there are only about 6 or 7 guys delivering to the entire city. Ronny Beberman is the Brooklyn Seltzer Man. He’s 63 years old and still drives his wooden slatted truck full of valuable vintage glass bottles.
The alternative to store bought or delivered seltzer would be to make my own. Now lookit, I have trouble boiling water or making toast. I’m not so sure I’d be up for carbonating several bottles of water. It’s just too much work.
Plus, let’s face it. Old school seltzer delivery is cool as shit.
Tomorrow’s post: How I’m going back to the rotary phone.
PS: “Seltzer Works” is a documentary film about Gomberg Seltzer. It’s being screened at Rooftop Films on July 17th.