New Piggly Wiggly to Address Food Accessibility in Greensboro
Greensboro is set to witness a significant change with the introduction of a new Piggly Wiggly grocery store in a region that has long struggled with access to fresh food. Scheduled to open its doors on October 7, this development has been eagerly anticipated by the community, as it comes more than seven years after S&S Capital LLC acquired the site.
Back in 2020, the Greensboro City Council had taken a decisive step by approving a financial package consisting of a $750,000 loan and grant to facilitate the establishment of this grocery store. The primary goal was to provide the local population with fresh food options and job opportunities.
The chosen site, Freeman Mill Square on West Florida Street, falls under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s classification as a low-access food area. This designation indicates that a substantial portion of the residents live more than a mile away from the closest supermarket, making access to fresh groceries a challenge.
The journey to opening the Piggly Wiggly has not been without its hurdles. Despite previous scheduled openings, the project faced multiple delays due to issues relating to permitting and supply chain disruptions. Shahzad Akbar, one of the developers, emphasized these challenges as the primary reasons for the setbacks.
