Average Cost of a Piggly Wiggly (Yearly)

I asked Grok (AI)....what is the average yearly cost factor for a Piggly Wiggly....not saying NY City....just in a average town.

So Grok said: 

"Piggly Wiggly operates as a franchise model with independently owned stores, primarily in the southeastern U.S., making exact costs variable by location, management, and local regulations. An "average-sized" store is typically 25,000–35,000 square feet, based on industry data for the chain. 

For this analysis, Grok used 30,000 square feet as the benchmark, with estimated annual sales of approximately $13 million (derived from U.S. grocery industry averages of $400–$500 per square foot in sales).  Operating costs are influenced by factors like energy prices, wage laws, and theft rates. 

These are annual estimates; actuals can vary 10–20% based on region (e.g., higher in high-cost states like California). Total operating expenses for a store this size typically range from $2.5–$3.5 million annually (excluding cost of goods sold, which is ~70–75% of revenue)."

The problems with this estimate.....for a place like NY City....with high theft and high wages...you probably need to double  the monthly wage/security cost.

So for the city council to finance just one of these 'no-cost' operations for the mayor....figure $7-million minimum (I'm more likely to figure $12-million if you consider daily theft in the range of $20k).

This is probably the only 'gift' that the city council would give the guy....one single year of covered cost, and eliminating it after 12 months....admitting that theft and real cost is a massive problem.

Eight Things

 1. If you are living off  $25k a year,  with $1000 in SNAP benefits per month....in most urbanized zones, you won't make it. Either get ahead....get new skills, or move to the rural regions.

2. The US gov't paid out $105k for a grant....to establish how long a good shopping cart will last. You could have asked some Piggly Wiggly kid, and he would have summed it up in 20 seconds.

3.   Mamdani 'win'.  My predictions, since he won?  First, the governor and the key Dems on the city council will have a meeting with him, and basically say....'shut-up' on the promises....we don't want half-a-million well-to-do residents to leave the state.   Second, this public grocery idea?  The city council will give him enough  to open one single grocery. For the first month of operation, it'll be around $500k in losses, with a minimum of 100 arrested for shop-lifting.  At the 12th month....the city council will shut-down the operation.  Third and final....around 100k city residents who own property in up-state NY and in Florida....will have left the city by late January.  Another 100k will leave by March of 2026. By summer of 2026....roughly 400,000 will have exited the city.

4.  Denialist. For the first 65 years of my life....I never heard anyone utter this word.  Suddenly....it's a daily thing now. 

5.  I think folks had best start thinking about the idea of two new US states....Alberta and Saskatchewan.  Will be a serious topic by the end of 2026.

6.  Don't know if it's intentional, but out of each ten SNAP-interviews on the news....half the time....I'd say the person talking is a hefty 40-percent over their normal weight.  

7.  By 2028, I expect a thousand Republicans to be double-and-triple registered...in  different states, and voting illegaly....to make a point

8.  Over 2026....some Hollywood team will be in NY City....making a movie called 'Escape From NY City-2026'.....with a dozen comedians  playing roles....as they try to leave the city.