Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Piggly Wiggly
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
1. Piggly Wiggly Marker
With a brass band, a beauty contest, flowers for the ladies, and balloons for the children Clarence Saunders of Memphis opened the first Piggly Wiggly, America's first completely self-service grocery store, at 79 Jefferson Avenue (½ block west of here) on Sept. 6 1916. In conventional stores of that time, shoppers presented their orders to clerks who fetched goods, ground coffee beans, measured flour, and sugar, and then added the bills in pencil on the back of sacks.
Marker Reverse:
At Piggly Wiggly, customers entered through a turnstile, filled their own baskets as they walked through a maze of shelves containing hundreds of products, and had their bills figured by clerks with adding machines. Saunders received patents for many of his innovative designs. By 1921, his company, Piggly Wiggly Corporation, had franchised stores in 200 cities in 40 states, with combined annual sales of $60 million. In only five years, Saunders had revolutionized the U.S. grocery industry.
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 110.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tennessee Club (within shouting distance of this marker); 128 Court Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Alva Edison (within shouting distance of this marker); James H. Malone (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Court Square Saved (about 300 feet away); First Tennessee Bank (about 400 feet away); WMC Radio Station (about 400 feet away); Calvary Protestant Episcopal Church (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Clarence Saunders' "Pink Palace"
Also see . . . Piggly Wiggly. Excerpt:
Piggly Wiggly was acquired by the wholesale grocer Malone & Hyde in 1982. Malone & Hyde was acquired by Fleming Companies in 1988. Fleming filed for bankruptcy in 2003, and C&S Wholesale Grocers acquired most of the business, including Piggly Wiggly. C&S acquired regional(Submitted on November 5, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)warehouses Piggly Wiggly Carolina in 2013 and Piggly Wiggly Midwest in 2021.Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 20102. Piggly Wiggly Marker side 2
There are more than 600 independently owned and operated stores in 18 states. The company headquarters is located in Keene, New Hampshire. Some of the stores in Alabama have formed Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Company, a retailers' cooperative to manage distribution while using the Piggly Wiggly name.
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
3. Piggly Wiggly Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,916 times since then and 103 times this year. Last updated on September 14, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2010, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
