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riental’s Piggly Wiggly is officially one year old.

The smiling face of Mr. Pig.

Built from the remnants of the failed Walmart Express, the Piggly Wiggly (locally known as the Piglet) celebrated it’s success. Walmart’s closing in January 2016 had left Oriental without a supermarket. Billy Flockhart, who also owns the larger Piggly Wiggly in Grantsboro, stepped up and six months later – on July 27 – gave the town its next grocery store. To celebrate the anniversary, Billy threw a party and invited the whole of Oriental.

Made in the shade. Crowds come and go under the tents.

The Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival orchestrated the live music. A free lunch of hot dogs and hamburgers could be had at one of the grills. A free Piggly Wiggly shirt was also offered to every attendee. However, the biggest giveaways of the day were gift cards and a two-minute shopping spree. Mr. Pig was on hand to help Billy announce the winners.

Mr. Pig looks on excitedly.

Billy gets help from the crowd.

Some winners of the $100 gift card were present: Deborah Steenson and Sally Belangia. The rest won in absentia: Kathy Mozelle, Rachel Pittman, and Hilda Smith.

A $500 gift certificate was won by Diana Peterson.

Diana Peterson winning the $500 gift card.

The crowd applauds the winner of the two-minute shopping spree: Dorothy Jones.

Dorothy Jones won the two-minute shopping spree – which took place immediately. Billy called for the aisles to be cleared so that Dorothy could shop in 120 seconds. At the end of her run, she left the store with over $250 in groceries and a gift card for another $100, courtesy of Billy.

Dorothy Jones at the starting line with her friend, Delcine Gibbs along to help out..

Grabbing what she can, Dorothy Jones fills her shopping cart.

Employees come out from behind the counters to watch.

Unloading her cart, Dorothy Jones waits for the final total.

Billy at the checkout.

Dorothy Jones, winner.

Posted Friday July 28, 2017 by Allison DeWeese