Both the Piggly Wiggly, and the Ace Hardware inside, are set to close in the next three weeks. / Wendy Sack
Updated 11-28-17
CULLMAN – Cullman's Piggly Wiggly, located at 4933 Alabama Highway 157, is set to close in the next three weeks. Employees speaking to The Tribune said management made the announcement shortly after Thanksgiving. A close-out sale at the longtime grocery store is happening now.
The store’s Relief Manager, Phillip Williams, addressed a rumor that only the grocery part of the store will close, and that the Ace Hardware that shares the facility will take over the building. He said that such a move may have received brief consideration early in the process, but that as of now liquidation of all assets–both grocery and hardware–is underway. The store’s liquidation sale began on Monday, Nov. 27.
"It is always disappointing when a business closes that has had a long, successful operation in the community," said Dale Greer, director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency (CEDA).
Piggly Wiggly has been a staple in the Cullman community for many years, in different capacities and franchises. Many locals remember the Piggly Wiggly that was located at 106 Second Ave. NE, the current home of the Cullman Power Board. That store closed down. The current Piggly Wiggly was formerly Jerry’s Giant Foods, which was also located on Second Avenue (where Desperation Church now resides), and became a Piggly Wiggly after Jerry’s owner Jerry Loegler sold his store. The current owners are Jerold and Melanie Russell.
CEDA Retail Development Manager Susan Eller said, "We hate to see them close their doors. Many people have shopped there for years and will miss the experience. There are locals who think this is the only place to shop and will be so disappointed to hear this news. With the current job market, the employees should be able to quickly find other job opportunities."
Williams told the Tribune that Piggly Wiggly is attempting to transfer as many of the store’s approximately 30 employees as possible to one of the company’s other stores in Warrior or the Clay/Trussville area.
Williams did not release a reason for the closure, saying simply that it was a “decision of the owners.”
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