It’s back! Crestline Pig set to open

Crestline Pig lovers will have to wait a few more days to once again walk the aisles of the Piggly Wiggly. Rather than host its grand opening June 1 as originally planned, the Pig will now open its doors on Friday, June 3.

Unforeseen software technical issues occurred over the weekend, forcing owners to move the store's opening date back a few days. The technical issue has been resolved, clearing the way for the Piggly Wiggly's opening. 

The ribbon cutting and opening of the Crestline Piggly Wiggly will be held at 8:30 a.m., at its new location, 41 Church St., nearly three years after it shuttered its doors in Nov. 2013.

Online, where much of the grassroots effort to save and then revive the Crestline Pig took place, the anticipation is evident. When the still-popular “Save the Crestline Pig” Facebook page posted about the Pig’s upcoming opening, more than 200 devotees shared their excitement.

When the new 18,000 square-foot Crestline Piggly Wiggly finally opens, the setbacks will all seem like a distant memory. But don’t expect Crestline’s new Piggly Wiggly to resemble the old store. This one, said owner Andy Virciglio, will be “bigger and better.” The building itself has some 28,250 square feet of gross floor area. By contrast, the old store had about 11,400 square feet of retail space and 3,600 square feet of storage space. The parking lot will also be more expansive. A total of 90 parking spaces surround the store, double the old store’s 45 parking places.

Think reclaimed wood, broader aisles, expanded product selections and unique offerings. The store will have its own wine section, complete with wine barrels selected by the owners and chandeliers. The expanded beer section will include even more craft selections and a growler bar. The deli will have a salad bar, a soup bar and even a milkshake bar. The meat and fish section will feature not only Certified Angus Beef and a larger fresh, never-frozen fish selection, but an aged-meat cooler as well. The store’s LED lights and completely-enclosed coolers will prove more energy efficient, as will the two sets of double doors at the entrance.

Some things, to the delight of Pig aficionados, will remain the same.

“Ms. Arrelia will be back,” said Virciglio of the famous Arrelia Callins, a Piggly Wiggly cashier and friend for more than 25 years. “You better believe she will be.”

Virciglio said several other former Crestling Pig employees, many of whom had been working at the Homewood store, will also be back.

“There will be many smiling faces returning that the neighborhood will recognize,” he said.

Along with their favorite employees, customers can also expect to see the return of locally-sourced products, food from local restaurants and of course, the charm of its favorite neighborhood store.

“We can’t wait for them to be back home,” said Mountain Brook resident Kathryn Corey, “just down the street.”

For a look back at the Pig’s return, click here.

Updated on Tuesday, May 31 to update the store's opening date.