We Shopped at Piggly Wiggly
One of the things I did on my recent research trip to Saint Simons and Jekyll Islands was visit local grocery stores. Yes, we needed groceries for our camper, but those trips were also pure research. After all, my characters will need groceries and if I write a scene set in a grocery store, I’ll need to know what store that would be on this island in the South, what that store looks like on the inside, how the checkout system works, etc. If I were to put my character in an H.E.B. store, it would call my research into question since there is no such store on the island!
So, in the name of research, we shopped at…
Winn-Dixie…
[image error]Harris Teeter…
[image error]Publix…
[image error]and Piggly Wiggly.
[image error]Not only did I learn a lot about each of those local stores, but it’s fun to shop in new stores with different brands that we’ve never tried. We found a delicious maple granola and bought some local coffee. Even the store-brand tissue boxes have unique, pretty designs that are different than what we can buy in our stores.
But this isn’t just about groceries. Grocery stores are social places where people interact with each other, friends or strangers. My characters just might have a significant meeting in a grocery store.
Speaking of grocery stores, Piggly Wiggly has a special place in my heart. In fact, my first published piece (cowritten with my three sisters and our brother) mentions Piggly Wiggly. My sisters came across this newspaper clipping going through some boxes at my Dad’s place. Don’t judge…we were young. 
Also, please forgive the typos in my grandparents’ small-town newspaper.
I still feel the same about “home, sweet home” and it’s great to be back from our research trip.
What local grocery chains are in your area? Do you have a favorite? Why?
