The Piggly Wiggly Story: A Local Legacy Rooted in Innovation

In 1916, Piggly Wiggly introduced America to self-service grocery shopping—a simple idea that changed everything. That same practical spirit still guides our Birmingham-area stores: clear pricing, friendly service, and weekly savings close to home.

The First Self-Service Grocery Store

Before self-service, shoppers waited while a clerk pulled items from behind a counter. Piggly Wiggly flipped the script:

Open shelves so you can compare and choose.
Price-marked items so there are no surprises.
Baskets at the door to make shopping faster.
A guided store layout for easy discovery.
Central checkout to speed you on your way.

The result was lower costs, better selection, and a shopping trip that put you in control.

Black-and-white photo of customers shopping the first Piggly Wiggly self-service grocery store interior in 1918.

From 1918 innovation to today’s aisles—shop your Birmingham Piggly Wiggly for clearly priced staples, local favorites, and weekly ad savings.

What That Innovation Means in Birmingham—Today

Simple, clear savings. Check the Birmingham Weekly Ad for fresh deals every week.
Quality departments. From butcher-cut meats to beer & wine, we stock everyday staples and local favorites.
Neighborly service. All Birmingham Piggly Wiggly stores are locally owned and community-minded—supporting schools, teams, and events.
Always improving. We adopt what helps shoppers (better assortments, clearer signage, easier ways to save) and skip the rest.

Find Your Neighborhood Piggly Wiggly

Looking for hours, directions, or services? Find a store near you and open its page for specifics like departments, phone, and holiday hours.
Tip: Store pages link straight to the current Weekly Ad so you can plan before you go.

Map of Birmingham, Alabama and surrounding suburbs marked with multiple red Piggly Wiggly location pins.

Birmingham has 13 Piggly Wiggly locations. Find your Pig today!

Then & Now—At a Glance

Then: Wait at a counter. Now: Shop the aisles at your own pace.
Then: Prices were unclear. Now: Every item is clearly marked.
Then: Limited selection. Now: Organized aisles with options for every budget.

Interior of a contemporary Piggly Wiggly supermarket showing smiling cashiers at traditional lanes alongside a self-checkout kiosk, festive balloons overhead, and stocked grocery aisles in the background.

Skip the wait and enjoy neighborly service—River Run Piggly Wiggly offers staffed lanes, speedy self-checkout, and weekly ad savings on everything you need today.

Quick FAQs

When did Piggly Wiggly pioneer self-service grocery shopping?
In 1916, introducing open shelves, marked prices, baskets, and central checkout.

How do Weekly Ad prices work in Birmingham?
Sale prices run for a set period each week. See the Weekly Ad for dates and participating locations.

Where can I confirm my store’s hours or services (butcher, beer & wine)?
Visit the Locations page and select your store for hours, departments, and contact info.

Do Birmingham stores offer custom meat cuts?
Yes—call your local store to confirm availability and special orders.

How can I stay updated on deals and local favorites?
Bookmark the Weekly Ad and explore all the Flavor Piggly Wiggly has to offer for seasonal ideas, recipes, and vendor spotlights.