Piggly Wiggly under lease negotiations, owners say

Andy Virciglio of Piggly Wiggly Food Stores released a statement on Saturday announcing that its Crestline store is under lease negotiations but aims to stay in the area.

"As late as yesterday, we are still in lease discussions with the landlord’s representative," said  Virciglio, co-owner of Piggly Wiggly Food Stores of Jefferson County Inc. "Everything about this store fits Crestline, and it is humbling to see how vocal our customers are in wanting us to stay. We are planning on making that happen."

A grassroots group formed a Facebook page on Friday in opposition to the possibility of the store closing. The page has ammassed over 3,700 likes in three days.

Kathryn Corey, an active community member who heard about the Piggly Wiggly's potential closing Friday morning, has organized a meeting at Emmet O'Neal Library on Monday, June 10 at 5 p.m.

The meeting will be an open discussion about the Piggly Wiggly, and there will be a petition for people to sign that Corey plans to send to the Verciglio family and the Scott family. Several city officials will be in attendance, including City Council President Virginia Smith, Mayor Terry Oden and Chamber of Commerce President Amy Jackson.

This story has been updated as of 12:05 p.m. on June 10.