DENVER — Not too many people realize that Denver once boasted more than 90 Piggly Wiggly locations and most of them are still standing — although no longer Piggly Wiggly, of course.
The grocery chain once dominated the supermarket landscape in the country. It was founded in 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee, and is considered the first true self-service grocery store.
The company franchised the idea, and soon hundreds of Piggly Wiggly stores began opening across the country, including here in Denver.
Take a look at these historic Denver buildings. Believe it or not, they were once Piggly Wiggly locations. Click below to launch the gallery.
But the company's success didn’t last long. The chain faced fierce competition and began shrinking from a national chain to a regional chain.
By 1938, many of the original locations in Denver were absorbed into Safeway, according to Groceteria.com.