The first genuine American supermarket made its debut on September 6th, 1916 — and it went by the unforgettable name of Piggly Wiggly. Opening its doors in Memphis, Tennessee, this store revolutionized the way people shopped for groceries. What made it so groundbreaking? Piggly Wiggly was the very first self-service grocery store in the country. Prior to this innovation, customers relied on clerks to gather their purchases — pulling dry goods from barrels while multiple employees scrambled around the store fulfilling orders. The self-service model was a game-changer, dramatically reducing the need for staff and making far greater financial sense. Shoppers would walk in, grab a wooden basket, and browse the shelves to select their own items. The concept proved so popular that by the end of its first year, Piggly Wiggly had expanded to nine more locations in Memphis. Since that humble beginning in 1916, the chain has grown to encompass 530 stores spread across seventeen states in the United States.
The mind behind this retail revolution was Clarence Saunders. As for the quirky name, inspiration struck when he watched a couple of little pigs trying to squeeze under a fence. That scene reminded him of the rhyme, "Three Little Pigs," which led him to coin the name "Piggly Wiggly." But the truth is, Clarence had a deliberate strategy — he simply wanted a name odd enough to spark curiosity, attract attention, and ultimately generate business and press coverage.
His instinct proved spot-on, as people frequently couldn't help but ask, "Why the name Piggly Wiggly?" His reply was always the same: "so people will ask that very question." Eventually, after franchising the store and issuing public stock, Clarence lost control of the company he had built. He went on to pursue another venture — an automated grocery store concept called Foodelectric — but the idea did not take off.