![]() For a while, the grocery store chain was led by a Nashville man named James Bradford (who later started a Nashville brokerage house called J.C. Piggly Wiggly stores remained open, but no longer under Saunders’ management. Who Owns Piggly Wiggly StoresPiggly Wiggly, Americas first true self-service grocery store, was founded in Memphis, Tenn. Hear more Tennessee voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought-provoking columns. Ford refused to meet with the two men from Tennessee (which gives you some idea of how important Ford was at that time). In a final effort to retain control over his company, Saunders and Tennessee Gov. Austin Peay went to Detroit to ask Ford Motor Co. But on Wall Street, his plot backfired, and Saunders went from wealthy to destitute overnight. Although the explanation of what occurred is very complicated, here is a brief summary: Saunders borrowed millions of dollars in an attempt to buy control of his own stock. However, in 1923 Saunders lost control over Piggly Wiggly after a complicated series of events involving ownership of the company’s stock. By 1922 there were 1,200 Piggly Wiggly locations in the U.S., about half owned by the company and the other half by franchisees. He built a massive mansion of pink Georgian marble, appropriately named the Pink Palace.Ĭustomers flocked to Saunders’ stores, and he took his company public within a couple of years after its founding. So I still don't know what to make of that.As his chain and wealth grew, Saunders developed a reputation for flamboyancy in Memphis. And yet, in the few years Lindahl was in business, none of their ads or city directory listings show that business was ever located on Lamar. As I had mentioned, such a store was apparently located right next door to the Sole Owner grocery, because a portion of their sign was visible. I confess I'm still mystified by the Lindahl Hardware connection, which is what had stumped me earlier. For that matter, as I told Adam, it even looks like the exact same telephone pole out front! Is that even possible? Piggly Wiggly Locations & Hours in Tennessee Piggly Wiggly Memphis, TN, 3327 N Watkins St Memphis, (901) 357-7617 Piggly Wiggly Nashville, TN, 2317 Dickerson. You can see where the rows of windows above the awnings used to be. Look carefully at the roofline, and the door and window openings. ![]() I'm fairly confident that this is indeed the same building. Shealy used to determine the angled shape of the lot, and then he actually took the time to travel along Lamar (with help from Google Street View). I'd love to hear what you think, as I always enjoy your articles! Side by side with the picture in your article, they look to be a perfect match. We have the Piggly Wiggly chain to thank for shopping baskets, price tags. ![]() Well some street view research led me to this: 1709 Lamar Ave, Memphis, TN 38114 (screenshot above). It had to start somewhere, and that somewhere was in Memphis, Tennessee. ![]() Here's what he told me: Vance, I believe I found your Clarence Saunders Sole Owner store mystery location! I noticed the angle of the building didn't look like a normal 90° angle so I started thinking it had to be on Lamar. Hence, the "mystery." Here's that story.īecause Memphian Adam Shealy has solved the mystery. I'll wait here until you do.Ī few weeks later, I included a second photograph (the one below), showing a somewhat larger store, and complained that I had been unable to determine its location, based on the few clues visible in the photo. Piggly Wiggly Pay & Benefits reviews in Memphis, TN Review this company. Go here to read that story and see that photo. Reviews from Piggly Wiggly employees in Memphis, TN about Pay & Benefits Find jobs. In September, I told the whole story of that short-lived chain and included a photo of one of the stores. ![]() I can't stop writing about Clarence Saunders' curiously named "Sole Owner of My Name" grocery stores. 1709 Lamar, shown here as it looks today, was apparently the Sole Owner store location shown below. ![]()
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