Piggly Wiggly Locations Are Closing: See Updated List of Doomed Stores for 2026
The confirmed closures follow multiple shutdowns in 2025. Independent operators say they are struggling with rising costs and weak sales.
Piggly Wiggly continues to shrink its footprint.
The retailer, which was founded in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1916 by Clarence Saunders, is widely credited with inventing the self-service grocery store format. Today, the chain operates roughly 500-plus stores, most of which are concentrated in a handful of Southern states, including Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, and Oklahoma.
Compared to its competitors, Piggly Wiggly has a unique business structure. While C&S Wholesale Grocers owns the trademark, the stores operating under the Piggly Wiggly name are independently owned and franchised, run by different families and operators.
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When one location closes, it’s rarely part
When one location closes, it’s rarely part of a broader corporate strategy. Instead, it’s typically the result of one owner making a difficult call about a particular store.
In Phenix City, Alabama, a Piggly Wiggly location shut down in February after nearly 40 years, worn down by rising equipment costs, a month-to-month lease, and years of financial strain. JTM Corporation, which owned and operated the store, said it wasn’t an easy call.
“We are incredibly grateful to the customers who have supported this store for nearly four decades,” executive Keith Milligan said “Serving this community has meant a great deal to our family.” When a location closes, one of the biggest concerns is where its employees will land. In this case, the company found jobs for all 20 workers at nearby Piggly Wiggly stores
Source: www.inc.com
