A sign taped to the entrance door of the Piggly Wiggly store announced a sudden change in the closing schedule. Originally set to shut down on Friday, June 7 at 3 p.m., the sign was hastily updated with marker, indicating the new closing date as Thursday, June 6.
To clear out inventory, all merchandise was marked down by 50%.
The unexpected closure has left many customers expressing their sadness. "It feels like we're losing a part of our community," one shopper said, reflecting the mood of many who frequented the store.
Piggly Wiggly Closure Timeline Confusion
In May, Earl Brunelle, the general manager of Piggly Wiggly, confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the store would close on June 15. However, the timeline remains uncertain. Employees have refused to comment on the matter.
The city of Brookfield was informed through a memo that the store would close permanently on Saturday, June 8, according to Justin Drew, the city's zoning and building administrator.
Mylette Boyd, a Wauwatosa resident, noticed the sparse shelves about half an hour before the 3 p.m. closure. She learned about the store's closure from a family member earlier in the week and was surprised it was the last day.
Store employees only discovered the closure through a letter posted by Sendik. Initially, they were informed that the store might close as early as May, as one anonymous employee disclosed.
Rumors about the store's closure circulated on social media and the Nextdoor App in early March, suggesting a closing date of May 11. Despite these rumors, the store management and owner did not respond to requests for comment from the Journal Sentinel at the time.
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Piggly Wiggly Closure Feels 'Like a Family' Loss
AOL revealed that Janelle Steybe wheeled a cart of Piggly Wiggly groceries to her car parked in Elmbrook Plaza for the last time on Thursday afternoon. The Brookfield grocery store at 2315 N. 124th St. closed its doors at 3 p.m., nine days earlier than the planned June 15 closure.
Steybe, a long-time shopper at the Brookfield Piggly Wiggly, remarked that there wasn't enough inventory to keep the store open, with stock reduced to just three aisles. She felt like she was part of a family at the store and praised its meat department as the best.
The aisles were nearly empty by 2:30 p.m. on Thursday as the final customers entered the store.
A sign on the entrance indicated the store would close on Friday, June 7 at 3 p.m., but this was scratched out and corrected in marker to read "STORE CLOSES Thurs. JUNE 6th." All merchandise was marked down by 50%.
Since the closure, heartbroken locals have shared their sadness. Store owner Ralph Malicki told The U.S. Sun that the closure feels like a "death in the family" and expressed his deep sadness over the situation.
Shoppers have taken to social media to voice their disappointment. One Facebook user commented on how sad inflation is affecting everything. Another expressed dismay, asking why one of their favorite stores had to close.
A third shared how the employees were always nice and, despite living closer to Pick 'n Save, they preferred to shop at Piggly Wiggly. The closure has left many in the community feeling a significant loss.
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