Scott: final offer made to Pig in 2012

The landlord of the Crestline Piggly Wiggly has spoken out publicly on lease negotiations for the space for the first time.

On Sept. 26, Walter Scott said a final offer was extended from his side of the table in March 2012. Scott, whose family owns the space leased by the Crestline Pig, told the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors that this offer was rejected, and from that point on no negotiations have resulted in a lease extension.

Scott said Piggly Wiggly was part of his family’s life, as it’s the closest grocery store to his home and he drives by it every day. He also said the community’s ire expressed toward him and his family was something he wanted to comment on during the summer but didn’t feel would be productive.

Chamber Board members, while expressively concerned with the Pig’s potential departure, encouraged Mountain Brook residents to avoid boycotting as a response to any decisions made involving Crestline businesses.

“It will in no way help our merchants to experience a boycott when they continue to have to pay rent,” Chamber President Terry Chapman said. “Actions like that have the potential to drive our local retailers out of business, and we could end up with additional chain stores in our city.”

Piggly Wiggly’s lease expires at the end of November. In spring of 2013, the Crestline community caught wind their beloved Pig could be leaving and launched a campaign to prevent that from happening. Earlier this week, that campaign gave a final push during an appearance before the Mountain Brook City Council on Sept. 23.

Led by Elisabeth Lyman, a pharmacist at Harbin Pharmacy in Crestline Village, more than 200 were present when she presented a rumor that the Scott family was open to talks with the City.

Scott said during the Chamber meeting that he was always open to discussion with the City Council and indicated he had been contacted to sit down with its members. The City has not set a date for this meeting, and no information was available by deadline.

During the City Council meeting, Council President Virginia Smith pointed out to the impassioned audience that the Crestline Piggly Wiggly’s situation involves a rent negotiation, and the Council has never subsidized rent.

Another rumor brought to the Council during the meeting focused on the presumptive new tenant for the Pig’s space. Two residents stated they had spoken with a representative from CVS from Tennessee who confirmed to them the company was interested in Piggly Wiggly’s spot in Crestline Village.

Council members reported they had no evidence CVS was interested in the space currently occupied by Piggly Wiggly. CVS has declined comment on both its current lease situation and any future plans in the area.

When asked about future plans for the site, Scott said there was no information to release. He said no agreements currently existed for the space following the Pig’s departure.