2022
It’s no secret that @Mikeinthefalls and I love to travel. Whether it be for a weekend or something a little longer, the older I get, I’ve begun to understand just how important a little travel and exploration is to my well-being. A hectic schedule (and budget) doesn’t always allow for an elaborate vacation, but we still try to find ways to break up the monotony of life by hopping in the car and going somewhere any chance we are able. while Ohio might not top anyone's must visit list, we’ve got our fair share of wonderfully fun, unique and interesting places and things that are worth exploring.
We have taken plenty of fun day trips that are each deserving of a Connect post, but I 've decided to highlight a very special place that we build weekend trips to Cincinnati around. I promise you this destination is DEFINITELY worth visiting the next time you’re within a few hours of Cincinnati, Ohio and have some time to kill and a sense of adventure that needs satisfying.
One thing that we, as humans, all have in common is that we must eat. And why not making it enjoyable. Regardless of your skill level in the kitchen, you’ve likely wanted to cook a meal that you didn’t have all the ingredients on hand for. In this predicament, there are two options. Scrap the idea and make something else or you venture to your local grocery store, only to find that they don’t carry what you’re looking for. We’ve ALL been there, and it can be incredibly disappointing for those of us who enjoy cooking and trying new foods. From here, we can either drive all over town trying to track down an ingredient, hit up Amazon hoping they might have it or we throw our hands in the air and grab a frozen pizza and call it dinner.
But what if there was another option? What if there was grocery store that carried all kinds of foods/ingredients from all over the world all under one roof?
Well, fellow Guides….allow me to introduce you to Jungle Jim’s International Market.
@Mikeinthefalls had discovered Jungle Jim’s several years ago when he joined his mom on an organized outing with her church group and he knew without a doubt that I would be in heaven once I walked through those doors. And he was not wrong!! I knew I was in for a total treat the moment we pulled into the parking lot. The parking lot was packed with hundreds of cars and the perimeter wa lined with tour busses. THAT’S how you know this isn’t just your run-of-the-mill grocery store and I couldn’t wait to walk through those doors to experience all that Jungle Jim’s had to offer.
In staying true to spirit of Jungle Jim’s, it would be impossible for me to fit everything I have to share with you in one post, so this will be a two part series.
In this first post, I will share a little history of how Jungle Jim’s came to be and give you a little taste of what you can expect. And in the second post, I’ll take you on a journey through the store that you’ll, no doubt, enjoy! Are you ready to dive in?
While I’ve always wondered things like: ”Is Jungle Jim an actual person?”, “How did this store become so massive” and “Do they have plans to expand into other markets?”, it wasn’t until writing this post that I actually sought answers to those questions that have been in my mind for years. I was pleasantly surprised that there was a whole section of their website dedicated to sharing their story of how they got started and how it has evolved into the enormous operation it is today. If you have 8 minutes, I would encourage you to watch THIS VIDEO that they have put together.
In case you don’t have time, I’ll summarize the history. James Bonaminio (aka Jungle Jim) hales from Lorain, Ohio and, from the age of six years old, embodied the spirit of a true entrepreneur. From doing odd jobs for neighbors and family, to reselling golf balls he’d collected from a local course, to selling miscellaneous wares out of his truck, a few hard lessons and he had built a recognizable brand and had a loyal following. As his dreams grew, he knew he needed a bigger space and in 1974, began building the his vision a few thousand square feet at a time. Today, there are two locations with a combined footprint of more than 500,000 square feet and they are continually looking for the next big thing to keep shoppers coming back and giving them new experiences each time they walk through the doors.
A few pro tips before you go:
1) Make sure you remember where you park. They have aisle markers for a reason
2) Grab a cart. If you are shopping with someone, they’ll want to grab one also.
3) You will be here for a while so make sure you do not go into the market on an empty stomach. We always pack a snack (or better yet, find something in the store that you can snack on while perusing. Just make sure you save the packaging for checkout)
4) Jungle Jim’s is always busy. But it is especially busy on the weekends. If you do not do well in packed places or want a more relaxing shopping experience, I would highly recommend you go on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning/afternoon to avoid as much chaos, as possible.
Now that you know the history and you’ve gotten a few tips from the pro’s, head over to THIS post where I’ll take you on a virtual tour of Jungle Jim’s International Market. I can't wait to share it with you!
