Let's Head To The Jungle!

Jungle Jim's that is!

Jungle Jim's International Market, is a large supermarket in Fairfield, Ohio, near Cincinnati. Many describe it as a theme park of food! Founded in 1971 by "Jungle" Jim Bonaminio, the store started as a small produce stand, and has grown to over 180,000 items, about 60,000 which are international items, and over 300,000 square feet of floor space.

Jungle Jim's is a grocery store unlike any other. Aisles and aisles of fresh produce, wine and beer, artisan breads, exotic spices and cheeses from around the world. Enjoy freshly baked goods still warm from the bakery, food demonstrations  and delicious samples. You will find 78 olive oils from Italy, Greece, Spain and France and teas from 15 different countries.

The aisle of hot sauces alone will amaze you! There are over 1400 different kinds!

If you can't find it here, you must not have really wanted or needed it!

And you know you are in for fun when the entrance sports a waterfall, giraffe, gorillas

and a water spewing elephant!

How can you not love a place with rest room entrances like this!

“I’m all about putting smiles on people’s faces,” said Jungle Jim’s

 owner Jim Bonaminio. “People are so tense these days. 

Those bathrooms just seem to make people laugh and that’s 

what we’re all about: laughing and having fun.”

You will find food and drink from

Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, England, French, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Spain, South-Africa, South-America, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, West Indies, Yugoslavia and many others. Whether you're looking for imported Olive Oils, extra-aged Balsamic Vinegars, specialty imported Pasta and Pasta products, imported Coffees, Teas, or any other global delicacy, Jungle Jim's can meet your specialty product needs! We never leave without a cart full of food and fun!

Jungle Jim's has a world class walk-in humidor and a state of the art Cooking School as well as more goodies per square inch than I have found anywhere!

We took home a few apples...

...and treats for Winston.

Oh look! It's Elvis...and he is still in the building!

Olive Oils as far as the eye can see!

The hot sauce aisle is awesome! This brand's founder lives in my neighborhood! 

And believe me, this stuff will curl your hair!

They call their hot sauce aisle the Aisle of Inferno, and it's outfitted with fire-fighting equipment in case the sauce is just a wee bit too hot!

You can visit France...England...Sweden...all around Asia...

...Greece...and never get out a passport!

You have never seen so much honey!

Or nuts!

Jungle Jim's has been featured on the Food Network show
Unwrapped, the History Channel show Modern Marvels and on Good Morning America.



Jungle Jim’s International Market is a place where the first rule is to treat customers well. We have always had good service and friendly faces. People come from several states away for the unique shopping experience Jungle Jim’s International Market offers! This amazing funhouse of a store draws 50,000 shoppers a week from many different states! If you ever near Cincinnati, stop by Jungles Jim's! Oh, and call me too. I will meet you by the Sushi Bar...or the Aisle Of Inferno...or the fresh seafood aisles...or...

For more info: http://www.junglejims.com/

It's A Jungle In Here!

Last weekend we decided to make a run down to the Cincinnati area and Jungle Jim's. A grocery store but a big one...and one filled with all manner of delectable goodies from around the world. And, some slightly nauseating ones as well...or so said my daughter. But then, what to tweens know about sophisticated cuisine anyway? We were there for 3 hours and had a good time perusing the foods of the Netherlands, England, Ireland, China, Italy and more. Their row of hot sauce alone is amazing....

Hot things need their own fire equipment right?

Hot Sauces from around the country and the globe, sauces with Scoville ratings ranging from 0 to 4,000,000 Units, collector series hot sauces, and the hottest sauce legally available in the U.S.. .... and yes, it HAS been featured on the Food Channel and Good Morning America so it must be THE place to be seen right? Of course, no one really saw me except these fish and they weren't talkin'.

Lookin' at them lookin' at us lookin' at them...

Near the store's entrance, two life-size plaster giraffes are surrounded by a family of plaster elephants in a shallow pond. Brown plaster chimps hang from the roof over a stand of giant plaster fruit. There is a 5-foot tall Gorilla hanging "King Kong" fashion on top of the enormous Greenhouse. At this point you realize this is no ordinary supermarket...aw come on. What gave it away? Oh..the gorilla...yep. Does it every time.So sit right down and you'll hear a tale...

There's a forty-foot boat in the fish department labeled "S.S. Minnow." Cartoon silhouettes of the Gilligan's Island crew are painted on the windows. Stuffed monkeys dangle over the banana display, and you select the fungi of your choice from a giant mushroom. When automatic sprayers turn on to mist the vegetables, they're accompanied by thunder and lightning. A full-size authentic horse-drawn buggy looms over the Amish-style meats and groceries section, and a large animated lion dressed like Elvis sings every five minutes on a glittery stage. Now, let's talk about the restrooms. Uh huh. Restrooms. At first glance, a Jungle Jim’s restroom might confuse new customers. What appears to be handicapped-sized port-o-lets are actually faux entrances to a hallway, adorned in a jungle motif, leading to an exquisitely decorated 10 stall restroom, complete with flowers, marble, soft green tile, tropical pictures and more."I’m all about putting smiles on people’s faces," said Jungle Jim’s Owner Jim Bonaminio. "People are so tense these days. Those bathrooms just seem to make people laugh and that’s what we’re all about: laughing and having fun."

And uh huh. It WAS fun.