Kelly’s Coke machine offers 125 different flavors

SAUGUS – More is better.That seems to be the response from customers at Kelly’s Roast Beef on Route 1 in Saugus, who have had 125 different soda flavors to choose from thanks to the Coca-Cola Freestyle soda fountain.Orange Coke, vanilla Sprite, raspberry lemonade. The choices seem endless when standing at the touch screen fountain, which combines a classic red ice box look with a sleek, futuristic dispenser.”The choices are good,” said Revere resident Jim Deramo. “Let the people decide what they want. Change is good.”Kelly’s had the three fountains installed in April as part of a trial run. With one fountain for the drive through and two inside, Kelly’s is one of a handful of restaurants in the state to feature them. But while General Manager Artie Perrin said it took customers some getting used to at first, he’s now looking into setting up a third fountain inside because they’ve become so popular.”We might get a third machine,” said Perrin. “When we’re really busy and churning, sometimes two machines is not enough to keep up with the crowd. People want to go sit down and sometimes the line is six or seven people deep for each one.”Karen Neckers works at Pearle Vision on Route 1 and came into the Kelly’s just for the fountain.”I didn’t go through the drive though just so I could use it,” said Neckers, who was sipping on a raspberry Sprite. “I heard they had it so I came in.”For some, however, the huge selection of flavors can be overwhelming.”Some of our older regulars want Coke and that’s it,” said Perrin. “That’s what they grew up with. But the kids ? they go crazy for it.”Reading resident Brian Leahy preferred just regular Sprite, but said his kids are the ones who get the most use out of the fountain.”The choices can be difficult,” said Leahy, “but it’s always nice to have options. My boys (like it). They usually mix them up.”Perrin said the fountains are fully computerized and require little maintenance. So far Kelly’s in Danvers has a Freestyle fountain too, and Fuddruckers and Burger King on Route 1 may be next in line to receive them.Peter LaFosse drove down from Merrimack, N.H. with his dad to get a cast removed and said he wishes more places had the fountains.”We came to Kelly’s a couple of weeks ago and we loved it,” said LaFosse. “I’m a big strawberry lemonade guy and you can’t get it anywhere else. They should have these everywhere.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattTempesta.