On a recent trip to the Cincinnati area to visit with family, we made the stop at Jungle Jim's on…read morethe first afternoon were were in town, which was on a Saturday in September.
Jungle Jim's International Market is truly unlike any store I have ever been. It is hard to describe, but it is a grocery store, international market, restaurant, bar, and more, but all on steroids. They even have their own podcast! There are so many sections and areas in this store, that if you truly took your time to shop, it would probably take an entire day to see and experience it all. It is a must-stop if you are visiting Cincinnati, or are local to the area and have never been.
There are two locations of this business, but we visited the Eastgate one this time. It specifically is located on Eastgate S Drive, in a strip with a few other businesses on each end. This is in the heart of the business district for the area, so it is not hard to locate and navigate to. The signage on the front facade is huge, colorful, and distinct. There is even a tram-type vehicle suspended above the street, so you will not miss it.
Since this is in a business-heavy area, there is a ton of parking all around. We visited on a Saturday, and the parking lot out front was quite busy, but we still had no issue finding a spot just a minute or two walk away from the entrance.
Once you walk in, that is when the fun begins. There is so much going on throughout the entire store, but in a good way. Similarly to a typical grocery store, there are different departments and areas for different items. However, the size of everything here is so much more grand. Each section could truly be its own store, given both the footprint and the variety of items available for purchase. This goes for both the "normal" grocery areas, as well as the international and specialty items.
Not only is the variety of items available impressive, but the manner in which they are displayed is also very appealing. Each area is decorated with large displays and signage that hang from the ceiling, giving the whole place a whimsical and fun atmosphere. It is fun to not only shop the products, but see what kind of decor and sculptures will find you in the next area. I loved the beehive with rotating bees in the honey section!
In addition to grocery and other food items, there are sections with cookwares, beer/wine/alcohol, cigars, clothing, pet items, seasonal items, and much more. I am sure you could do your regular grocery trip here, but it might take you a little longer due to both the size of the store and desire to peruse all of the different items they have!
Another fun aspect of Jungle Jim's is the variety of dining options. There are several places to purchase prepared foods, most of them being around the bar area. There is also a Sushi section near the main entrance. The full-service bar offers different tastings, weekly specials, alcoholic slushies, and much more. We took some time to enjoy a brew during our visit. It was fun to walk around and shop while enjoying some beer.
The store has different areas and stations for tastings, samples, demos, and events. They have an entire calendar on the website that outlines some of the various tastings and events they have monthly.
Some of my favorite sections in the store were the Bakery and the Sauce/Spice area. The Bakery has many different fun and unique items that they make themselves. There are also different vendors and other local businesses featured not only in the bakery, but throughout the store. As far as the Sauce section, I truly have never seen so much hot sauce variety in my life. It is really fun to look around here and find something that you did not even know existed.
The service here was very good overall. There are a lot of employees, and everyone we interacted with was helpful. Tons of checkout lines were open, and we did not have to wait super long to make our purchases. The bar had a slightly long line, but it was not terrible.
There are some good values to be found here, if you look in the right places. I would definitely look at both the weekly ad and signage around to find some good deals. On our visit, I found some energy drinks for about $1 a can, which is a very good price. Some things will be more expensive, given that it is an international market, but overall I thought the pricing was fair for most items.
This is a must if you are in Cincinnati for any length of time. Definitely budget a few hours if you want to look around and see all the store has to offer. I would advise grabbing a cart and your walking shoes, because the store is very large. I always love coming here and checking out the selection, even if I am not necessarily hunting for anything specific. This place is great for anyone, as there will be something you will enjoy or want to try here. Plus, they are a locally-owned business supporting other locally-owned businesses. Highly recommend stopping at Jungle Jim's!
