Besides the fact that it’s the coolest named grocery store ever, pretty much all of the modern conveniences you take for granted when at the grocery store today are because of the Piggly Wiggly.
Piggly Wiggly was the first true self-service grocery store. It was founded way back in 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee and before it came along, you would wait in a long line & then hand your shopping list to a cashier. Then wait around some more while they filled the order for you {like Olivia Walton did at Ike Godsey’s store}. Then wait around even longer while they checked you out. Grocery shopping already feels like it takes FOR-EVER sometimes. I can’t even image. Pretty much in debt to those Piggly Wiggly folks!
In case you didn’t know, Piggly Wiggly was the first to:
- provide checkout stands
- price mark every item in the store
- provide shopping carts for customers, starting in 1937
- feature a full line of nationally advertised brands
- use refrigerated cases to keep produce fresher longer
- put employees in uniforms for cleaner, more sanitary food handling
- standardize product location, so customers who know the location of their favorite products in their local store knew where they were in every store
- franchise independent grocers to operate under the self-service method
The success of Piggly Wiggly was phenomenal {at its peak the company operated 2,660 stores!} so much so that other independent and chain grocery stores changed to self-service in the 1920s and 1930s. While there are only about 600 Piggly Wigglys remaining, we were lucky enough to find one on our road trip! I mean you can’t exactly say you’ve fully experienced the South until you’ve shopped at a Piggly Wiggly, right?! A Piggly Wiggly is as Southern as sweet tea, grits and lightin’ bugs.
Now Amberlina’s husband was a cart boy at a Piggly Wiggly many years ago, so he gave us the lowdown. First lesson: a shopping cart is not called a shopping cart. It’s called a buggy. Who knew? Second lesson: Soda is called Coke. Like if you walk into the store looking for Sprite, you’d ask where the Coke aisle was, not the soda aisle. He also said that no one knows how the original owner came up with the name Piggly Wiggly. Turns out he’s right. I Googled it & Clarence Saunders, the founder, would never say where he got the name from. Odd.
All in all, it seemed like any other grocery store on the inside. But just knowing you’re in a store called Piggly Wiggly makes it that much more awesome.
Ed says
I totally dig the pig!
Megan M. says
Did you get the shirts that say,”I’m big on the pig”? Those are the thing to have around here in NC.
Delores says
Where I live (in the south), Piggly Wiggly (or “The Pig” as it is known here) is where to get the best meat and local fruits and vegetables.
Terri Davison says
I dig The Pig!
Patty says
My very first outing was to the Piggly Wiggly back in 1962!
Katie says
i work at a piggly wiggly! in wisconsin though.
Mrs. Hillbilly says
Being from the Deep South, I must second the facts that carts are called buggies and all soda was referred to as coke! We love Piggly Wiggly. Little daughter Hillbilly would tell you just the same! I am sooooo pining for the south !Mrs. Hillbilly
KCB says
Piggly Wiggly is still hanging on in the South. I still call the carts buggies & all soda is Coke (except Dr.P). Another old southern grocery store is Jitney Jungle. I just love that name. I don’t know if they’re still around.
Jennifer says
“Savings are big, when you shop the pig!”
RESPECT THE PIG!
Prayers for your safe travels!
Jennifer in IA
Shell says
Hope all goes well for you guys. I contribute to St. Jude’s each year. I remember shopping at Piggly Wiggly years ago. The smaller grocery stores have always had a homey feel to them.
Tori says
Thank you for affirming the use of buggies! I grew up in Tennesee with a “Pig” in my town (my cousin called it the Piggily Wiggily when he was young!). when I moved to Michigan, nobody knew what I was talking about when I asked for a buggy. I think it sounds much more quaint than shopping cart so I still say it. I don’t want to lose my vernacular! glad you enjoyed Dollywood, too! I have many growing up memories there! Thanks for keeping us informed on your trip to st. Jude’s, and hope you have safe travels home!
Catherine Robinson says
I knew someone who called it the Hoggly Woggly. That’s all I ever call it now.
Kimberly says
Just to fill you in, Piggly Wiggly has been sold and became a cash saver. We just moved to Tacoma from Memphis and they are gone!