Against Creedance Clearwater Revival's advice, I could not "run through the jungle."  Jungle Jim's that is. 

 

How could I run when my jaw was nearly dropped throughout my two hours of shopping there this weekend?  Yes, it was my first visit there.  Even my husband who normally has all he can take after an hour of any supermarket was mesmorized at the selection, diversity, and vastness of this place. 

 

The animal creatures and circus-look did nothing for me.  I thought it was a little tacky myself.  I was there for the food.  And food I found.  I also found coffee, cheese, cannoli, cajun smoked pork chops, white barbecue sauce (my husband and I have never seen white barbecue sauce before?!), ceramic bowls, flavored cigars for a friend of ours, and lots of other things that led to us having a $150 bill.

 

We were pleased to find a taste of New Orleans there when we spotted New Orleans Coffee and Chicory, Beignet mixes, Zataraine's Jambalaya, and more.  Those of you who told me about this place were right - if you can't find it at Jim's, it must not exist.

 

I loved walking into the various country of origin aisles.  My favorite thing was listening to the music in each corridor.  Today the tunes from the Scandanavia cubby hole was really jammin'  :mrgreen:

 

It is an experience that everyone who loves food and is looking for something unique should try.  But I couldn't see myself shopping there every week.  Too much to distract me.  It's not a place you walk into in a hurry and come out quickly. 

 

Still we were glad we went.  This afternoon my husband and I enjoyed our cannolis from the bakery and our Caramel Nut Cream Coffee from their grinding station. 

 

Cheers to you Jungle Jim!

 

 

 

  Where is this place you speak of?

  Where is this place you speak of?

Somewhere in Dayton

^No.  Somewhere in Fairfield.

haha. man jungle jim's is an ohio treasure. the thing you said about it being cheesy well i think just the opposite. i am tired of dingy or just plain at best food shopping, esp international food groceries which outside of the goods are often the most dreary of all. jj's is the bomb, i try find any reason to go there when i visit.

Yeah, Jungle Jim's is "Cincinnat's Grocery Store". And soon to be in Oakley.

 

Jungle Jim's is the shit, hands down! Nothing compares. If you EVER get a chance, make sure you go! Truly an experience you will not forget!

and I thought Topps and Giant Eagle were cool......lol..sounds like Cleveland is missing out!

^Jungle Jim is actually from Lorain, I believe.

 

Anyway, visit www.junglejims.com and click on attractions. I can't wait for the food adventure tram!

I always get a kick out of the singing cereal box characters.  Not all the other animatronic things, just the cereral box characters.  I don't know why.

Man, I miss Jungle Jim's.  When I was a student at Miami, we used to drive out there all the time.  If you've never been, it is worth going to.

lol Where would a jungle jims in Oakley even fit, honestly?  They have that empty space across from rookwood right by I-71 but I don't think that's technically Oakley...maybe it is. That space isn't nearly big enough though. Hmmmmm

^ They are looking at space behind the Center of Cincinnati developement.  There are currently abandoned factories.  They are planning on a smaller version of Jungle Jim's here.

Ahhhh ...I never thought of that. I bet their new neighbors Meijer and Sams Club will be happy about that :)

The Oakley location will be part of the Millworks development and much smaller (square footage wise) than the parent location in Fairfield.  As for Meijer and Sam's Club, Jungle Jim's will be going for a different market than the weekly "milk & bread" or bulk item grocery shopper so I don't think it would impact them too much. 

 

There is however a Fresh Market is opening in Oakley that will be less than a mile from Wild Oats so there will be more competition for the higher end specialty grocery market share in the area. 

^Jungle Jim is actually from Lorain, I believe.

 

Anyway, visit www.junglejims.com and click on attractions. I can't wait for the food adventure tram!

 

well how do ya like that? jj is an old lorain guy. funny. who knew? thanks for noticing that ink!

 

I thought you might get a kick out of that!

There is however a Whole Foods market opening in Oakley that will be less than a mile from Wild Oats so there will be more competition for the higher end specialty grocery market share in the area. 

 

That is great - I haven't heard about that one!  Where will it be?

Unfortunately it is not!  I was confused.  It's going to be Fresh Market - not Whole Foods Market.  http://www.freshmarket.com/pages/store_locationsDetail.aspx?StoreId=60

 

It is going in where Jones' the Florist was (formerly IGA) on Madison Rd . 

^ I checked out the website you posted....Fresh Market sounds pretty cool!  I can't wait for this open.

Yeah, Jungle Jim's is about the coolest place to buy food in Ohio besides the West Side Market in Cleveland. If Jungle Jim's wants to expand a little bit, maybe they could open one in a new metro area like Cleveland. It could be a catalyst for neighborhood development in Cleveland Jungle Jim's openned up somewhere like downtown, Midtown, or University Circle. It really has become a huge destination in the Cincinnati area.

 

Anyone know the deal with the monorail track and train recently installed there? I don't get it, and the website isn't too helpful at explaining what plans there are for it.

^The plan is that eventually the monorail will circle all his property there, droping shoppers at various locations with resturants and retail, along with his main store. He did an interview a few months ago saying he didn't know the timeline on that, but I can only say that the station has been there 10 or more years, so I would hope we are on the downside.

I wish Jungle Jims would put their new branch in the vacant KMart building in Columbia Township instead of next to the Target/Circuit city/Meijer area.