Richard Stignani
Richard Stignani is a grocer, restaurateur, and video store owner who owned a series of stores in the Birmingham District's "Over the Mountain" area.
Stignani is the son of Sonny Stignani, a grocer who moved his family from Memphis to Birmingham in order to open Liberty Supermarkets. The Stignanis operated the grocery chain in partnership with other family members until 1984.
Richard and Sonny opened The Fresh Market in English Village in the mid-1980s. The Fresh Market sold produce, cheeses and gourmet foods. During this time, Richard forged a relationship with Cooking Light magazine, providing them fruits and vegetables for their photo shoots. This relationship continued while Stignani's Market & Deli was open later.
From 1989 to 1996, Stignani opened and ran four Blockbuster Video stores in the Birmingham area. He sold them to the corporation in 1996.
The following year Stignani opened Stignani's Market & Deli with his wife, Bernie. Richard retired and closed the Stignani's the first week of January 2003 after learning Publix would be building a location nearby. Publix sells many of the same brands sold by Stignani's.
References
- Milazzo, Don. "Stignani's sells small-shop charm" [1]. Birmingham Business Journal 7 July 2000. American City Business Journals, Inc. Accessed 22 September 2006.
- Mahoney, Ryan. "Stignani's closes, Gian Marco's moving into spot" [2]. Birmingham Business Journal 10 January 2003. American City Business Journals, Inc. Accessed 22 September 2006.