2001 Rosewood Drive
Site of Piggly Wiggly
Life within Columbia's early suburbs required services similar to those found in abundance downtown. Commercial interests often bordered and occasionally were found within the residential developments that stretched beyond the confines of the city limits during the early 20th century. Grocery stores, drug stores, meat markets, and other necessities could be found within walking distance and, in some instances, not far from streetcar stops established by the Columbia Street Railway Company. With the advent of supermarkets during the later 1940s and early 1950s, smaller stores experienced greater competition for patrons.
The grand opening of a Piggly Wiggly supermarket in 1971 met the area's growing needs while offering neighbors an informal meeting place to catch up on community issues. At 15,000 square feet, the Rosewood Drive Piggly Wiggly operated until August 24, 2002, at which time its once-impressive size could not compete with other, even larger stores located within driving distance from the neighborhood.
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Taken before Rosewood Drive was widened, this aerial perspective of the store illustrates its proximity to residences standing to its north and east within the Hollywood-Rose Hill neighborhood. Image courtesy Helen Thomasson
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Franchise owner C. Hall Thomasson and his wife, Helen, at Piggly Wiggly's opening in 1971. Following Mr. Thomasson's death in August 2008, this World War II veteran and long-time community member was remembered for honesty and fairness in his business dealings. Image courtesy Helen Thomasson
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For three decades pedestrians and motorists along Rosewood Drive were met with the smiling iconic Piggly Wiggly pig of Thomasson's supermarket. Image courtesy Piggly Wiggly
