The history of Piggly Wiggly in Parkersburg

Moodboarder
3 min readAug 12, 2023

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West Virginia is a long and storied one. The store has been a staple of the community for over 100 years, and in that time, it has seen a lot of changes.

Piggly Wiggly was founded in 1916 by Clarence Saunders. Saunders was a true innovator in the grocery business, and he is credited with inventing the self-service grocery store. Prior to Piggly Wiggly, customers would have to give their grocery list to a clerk, who would then retrieve the items from the store shelves. Saunders changed all that by creating aisles and shelves that customers could browse themselves. He also introduced the concept of pricing items individually, rather than by the pound.

Piggly Wiggly quickly became a hit, and Saunders soon had stores popping up all over the country. The first Piggly Wiggly in Parkersburg opened in 1918. It was located at 914 Market Street, in the heart of downtown.

The store changed hands several times over the years, and in the early 1970s, it was purchased by the Burdette family. The Burdettes owned and operated the store for nearly 40 years. In 2010, they sold Piggly Wiggly to the current owners, who have continued the tradition of providing quality service and products to the Parkersburg community.

Piggly Wiggly is more than just a grocery store. It is a true community institution. Over the years, it has been a gathering place for people of all ages. It is the place to go for the latest news and gossip. It is a place to find comfort and support in times of need.

Piggly Wiggly is a Parkersburg institution, and it is a store that truly has something for everyone.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about the history of Piggly Wiggly in Parkersburg, West Virginia. This store has been a staple of the community for over 100 years, and it has seen a lot of changes in that time. Piggly Wiggly was founded in 1916 by Clarence Saunders, and it quickly became a hit. The first Piggly Wiggly in Parkersburg opened in 1918. It was located at 914 Market Street, in the heart of downtown. The store changed hands several times over the years, and in the early 1970s, it was purchased by the Burdette family. The Burdettes owned and operated the store for nearly 40 years. In 2010, they sold Piggly Wiggly to the current owners, who have continued the tradition of providing quality service and products to the Parkersburg community.

Piggly Wiggly is more than just a grocery store. It is a true community institution. Over the years, it has been a gathering place for people of all ages. It is the place to go for the latest news and gossip. It is a place to find comfort and support in times of need.

Piggly Wiggly is a Parkersburg institution, and it is a store that truly has something for everyone. Thank you for supporting Piggly Wiggly, and we look forward to serving you for many years to come.

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