Piggly Wiggly.

By Excellent in Food & Drink, Pictures on Feb 25, 2007 at 12:31 am

“Piggly Wiggly what does it mean? Piggly Wiggly I’ve never seen! Is it a piggy or is it a worm? I’d never touch it might make me squirm! If I shall see one I’ll tell you more. Grandmother says it’s a grocery store!”

Piggly Wiggly [wiki] was the first true self-service grocery store. It was founded on September 6, 1916, at 79 Jefferson Street in Memphis, Tennessee, by Clarence Saunders. A replica of the original store has been constructed in the Memphis Pink Palace Museum – a mansion that Saunders built as his private residence but later sold to the city.

As seen on Flickr.

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beajerry
Feb 25th, 2007 at 2:57 am
I have fuzzy fond memories of Piggly Wiggly, and also of Woolworths!
Remember the days of Green Stamps?
artschild
Feb 25th, 2007 at 10:49 am
I remember when the Piggly Wiggly in my hometown closed down. *sigh*
Anita
Feb 25th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Piggly Wiggly and “fond memories” will never be used in the same sentence by me (except in that one of course). I’ve always found them dingy and rather run-down.
biltmore
Feb 25th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I haven’t seen a Piggly Wiggly in years!!!
Will from mental_floss
Feb 26th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Most regulars of the chain in Birmingham, AL just call it “the Pig,” as in “I’m gonna run to the Pig and get some more milk and bread.”
H.N.
Sep 24th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
In SC the Pig is still very popular. We proudly display T-shirts and bumper stickers that say “I’m big on the pig” and “I’m sticking with the pig.” In locations that are too small for a Harris Teeter or a Food Lion, there are fine piggly wiggly stores. This year is the year of the pig in the Chinese calendar – let’s all go to the Pig.
wkclark
Jul 16th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I know this isn’t about the store, but did anyone ever have a board game called “Piggly Wiggly”? I had one growing up in the 60′s-70′s. I’ve been trying to find another one, but haven’t had any luck.
Pigs
Nov 24th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I think that the board game is called “Uncle Wiggily,” I used to play it as a kid, also.
BillyLoneWolf
Sep 15th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Yes Uncle Wiggily! Ok who was Skeeziks?
Matthew Strickland
Nov 10th, 2009 at 5:12 am
I love the PIGGLY WIGGLY. Even though several other chain have come to our town, I continue to shop there, and I always will. I would;however, like a t-shirt that says “I’m big on the pig”, and I cannot find one.

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