What Is Jungle Jim’s? Everything You Need to Know

Foodies, rejoice: Heaven is here on Earth and it’s located just outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Every week, over 50,000 shoppers visit this nationally-known home to everything culinary. What’s all the hype about? Let’s get wild.

What is Jungle Jim’s?

Jungle Jim’s International Market is basically a theme park disguised as a grocery store. With over 180,000 different products in stock at any given time, people travel from around the country to shop at this Ohio landmark. Jungle Jim’s even has its own weekly podcast, hosted by friend and one-time chili ingredient Mark Borison.

How many Jungle Jim’s locations are there?

As of right now, there are two! The original location is what people usually mean when they talk about the Jungle Jim’s grocery store (I’m focusing on the original location for the purposes of this piece), but there is a satellite location located closer to eastern Cincinnati. The secondary “Eastgate” location may be less nationally known than the original, but some local fans prefer the store layout and smaller crowds for their regular shopping trips.

Where is Jungle Jim’s?

The original location is located at 5440 Dixie Hwy, Fairfield, Ohio 45014, while the secondary “Eastgate” location is located at 4450 Eastgate South Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45245.

How big is Jungle Jim’s?

The original Jungle Jim’s location spans 200,000+ square feet! That’s more than 4.5 acres of grocery shopping bliss. While it’s not quite the biggest grocery store in the country, it’s pretty darn close. Make sure you wear good shoes; it’s the only grocery store I’ve ever been to that gives you a map when you walk in. 

Who owns Jungle Jim’s?

“Jungle” Jim Bonaminio started his grocery empire in the 1960s, selling 20 pound sacks of rejected potato chip potatoes out of a truck for 75 cents a pop. After a few years of running popular produce stands in the greater Cincinnati area, Jim bought land in 1975 to open a store that expanded over the years into the Jungle Jim’s International Market we know today. 

Jungle Jim is so beloved that in 2018, Jelly Belly honored him with a jelly bean portrait weighing over 100 pounds! The art piece, made with over 12,000 Jelly Belly beans, is on permanent display in Jungle Jim’s candy department—right above the store’s Jelly Belly display, of course.

What do they sell at Jungle Jim’s?

Everything. Jungle Jim’s has supersized portions of everything you’d expect at a grocery store: meat, produce, deli, cheese, baked goods, and cookware. But that’s not all. There’s also specialty sections focusing on olives, honey, candy, soda, toys, coffee, and hot sauce—plus entire aisles of vegan, gluten-free, and natural products. 

And since we are talking about Jungle Jim’s International Market, the store also sells 70,000 items from over 70 African, Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, Indian, and Asian countries. I don’t even have space to talk about their thousands of beer and wine options or their expansive in-house cigar and liquor shops—not to mention the pet store-sized pet department? 

Okay, it’s a big grocery store, what makes it worth the trip?

In one word? Presentation. Jungle Jim’s has animal statues, wild decor, and a monorail. Jungle Jim’s even features all sorts of animatronics scattered around the store. Standout figures include a giant Campbell’s Soup can swinging above the American grocery department, a cereal mascot supergroup playing music in the produce department, and Elvis the Lion serenading shoppers in the candy department.

Is there anything to do at Jungle Jim’s?

If you want a more specific itinerary beyond “shop ‘til you drop,” just check the calendar! Jungle Jim’s hosts cooking classes, wine and beer tastings, and more. There are also a few themed events called “Jungle Fests” throughout the year. The Big Cheese Festival, named after the enormous 700lb provolone on display in the store’s cheese department, is an annual celebration of everything you’ll find on a charcuterie board. There are also annual Jungle Fests dedicated to wine, craft beer, and spicy foods. (Consider this my formal begging to co-host a revival of Fizzz Fest, their retired Jungle Fest concept dedicated to non-alcoholic beverages; I am uniquely qualified for this, y’all.)