Negotiations end, Piggly Wiggly to leave Crestline

Lease negotiations have concluded, and Piggly Wiggly will exit its space in Crestline Village.

According to a statement issued by Andy Virciglio, co-owner of Piggly Wiggly Food Stores of Jefferson County Inc., the Crestline store will be required to vacate the premises by the end of November to make way for a new tenant. Virciglio stated he met with employees this morning to inform them of the outcome.

“We did our best to make this work,” Virciglio’s statement reads. “We tried and tried to work out our lease agreement. We agreed to the landlord’s fair market rent increases. We have been good tenants in the space for 30 years, but the landlord chose to go another route with another tenant and unfortunately we cannot do anything about that.”

The news was released two days after a community-organized effort named “Save the Crestline Pig” reported a rumor the store would close by Sept. 30. The organization, represented by a Facebook.com page with more than 5,000 “Likes,” first sprung up in June and has since been active in providing the community with a place to voice its opinions during lease negotiations.

“I will not step through the doors no matter what they put there or if they give things away free,” wrote Mountain Brook resident Tiffany Lewis on the Save the Crestline Pig page in response to the rumor. “We love the Pig and all the people who work there know us by name. I would think that in any part of the country, the Deep South is where you would find the most loyalty. What a disappointment.”

Much of the information released during negotiations was classified as rumor. Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston, told Village Living that a company out of Auburn talked with City Planner Dana Hazen earlier this year about adding a drive-through window to the existing Piggly Wiggly location. The company’s name was never confirmed.

Other reports arose that the visiting company represented a national pharmacy corporation like CVS or Walgreens. Gaston also said that the City’s records show that chains like CVS create about one-fifth the amount sales tax revenue as the Crestline Piggly Wiggly.

Representatives from CVS did not return a request to comment for this story by deadline, but store employees told Village Living in June that the company renewed its lease on the Crestline location in 2013.

Virciglio stated he did not know who would occupy the space following Piggly Wiggly’s departure.

“For 30 years, the Crestline Piggly Wiggly has been a consistent supporter of community-based fundraisers and activities,” Virciglio stated. “We will miss that in Crestline, but our Homewood and River Run stores will maintain that Piggly Wiggly community involvement. And, especially we appreciate the outpouring of love and support this community has provided the store, each and every day.”

Virciglio posted a note to the community on the Crestline Piggly Wiggly Facebook page the afternoon of Sept. 12.

"Our plan is to maintain the quality of services you expect from your Piggly Wiggly until we close the store," it reads. "We thank you for so many things, but especially we thank you for your friendship, for your loyalty and for allowing the Crestline Piggly Wiggly to be a part of your lives. We will miss you."

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.