New Piggly Wiggly to Replace Closed Winn Dixie in Tuscaloosa’s Five Points

A longtime grocer is making moves to open his sixth local Piggly Wiggly store, replacing the recently closed Winn-Dixie in the east Tuscaloosa neighborhood of Five Points.

As the Thread previously reported, the area's final Winn-Dixie wound down and closed earlier this year. The University Boulevard East market was the last one still operating locally after the German ALDI supermarket brand bought its parent company, Southeastern Grocers, in 2024.

Though three other former Winn-Dixies were converted into ALDI stores, the Five Points location has been vacant for a few months. On Tuesday, Tuscaloosa grocer Jay Welborn announced plans to open a Piggly Wiggly there and bring business back into the building.

Get our free mobile app

In a Tuesday announcement, Welborn called Five Points - the intersection of University Boulevard East with 15th Street East - one of Tuscaloosa’s most established retail corridors.

“This project is about more than opening another store,” said Jay Welborn, co-owner of B&W Foods. “Five Points has been an important part of this community for a long time, and we feel a real responsibility to bring it back the right way. As a family-owned business, we take pride in investing locally and creating a store our customers can count on for fresh food, friendly service and the dependable shopping experience they expect every day.”

The large store footprint will allow this Piggly Wiggly location to feature the brand's first full-service bakery, deli, and floral departments in the Tuscaloosa area. Welcorn said there will also be a specialty case featuring custom and speciality cuts from Piggly Wiggly butchers.

“Our stores have always been about more than just groceries,” Welborn said. “They’re about relationships. We’re proud to continue that tradition in Five Points and grateful for the support that has allowed us to grow while staying true to who we are.”

Cleanup of the closed store is already underway, and Welborn said he hopes to open the Five Points Piggly Wiggly this fall.

For more exclusive coverage of restaurant and retail development in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.