The Jungle Jim’s logo symbolizes the supermarket, where every visit becomes an exciting journey. The store surprises customers with its scale and variety, offering rare spices, unique products, and an atmosphere where every discovery becomes an adventure.
Jungle Jim’s began in 1971, when Jim Bonaminio opened a fruit and vegetable stand on a parking lot in Hamilton, Ohio. He worked up to 21 hours a day, slept near the stall, and moved several times as the land was sold. In 1974, he secured a site in Fairfield with help from Fannie Kunagin, who agreed to guarantee the purchase. A 4,200-square-foot store opened in 1975 with local produce, bread, and milk.
The market expanded by 15,000 square feet in 1982. A decorative pond with animal figures and palm trees appeared in 1983. After visiting specialty markets in Chicago, Bonaminio reshaped the business in 1988 as an international food market with jungle-themed interiors. Additions of 45,000 square feet in 1989 and 135,000 square feet in 1993 turned the Fairfield location into one of the largest grocery stores in the United States.
In 1998, Jungle Jim’s bought monorail cars from Kings Island’s former Lion Country Safari attraction. They built a snake-shaped station, though the full route remained unfinished. Another 85,000 square feet was added in 2001, followed by a retail gallery in 2004 and the Oscar Event Center in 2007.
A second store opened in Eastgate on September 25, 2012, after an earlier Cincinnati project failed. Jungle Jim’s competed with Kroger and Whole Foods Market through its international assortment. By 2020, both Ohio stores covered over 500,000 square feet, offered products from more than 70 countries, and attracted about 82,000 visitors per week.
Meaning and History
What is Jungle Jims?
This is a place where shopping turns into a real adventure. The huge supermarket, with an area of more than 200,000 square feet, offers more than 180,000 products from around the world, including rare spices, exotic fruits, unusual sweets, and delicacies. The themed zones, animated exhibitions, singing robot animals, antique fire engines, and a monorail train over the shopping arcades create a special atmosphere.
1971 – today
The Jungle Jim’s logo is designed in a distinctive, relaxed, and informal style, reflecting the atmosphere of the supermarket, which originated in Ohio and became known for offering products from around the world. The lettering appears as if it were hand-carved, with uneven, slightly tilted green letters that create a sense of casual imperfection.
The entire name is written in uppercase, in a calm, natural green. The inside of the letters is white, giving the text a three-dimensional look, resembling a wooden sign often seen at the entrances of themed markets or parks. This ties in well with the supermarket’s concept, where shoppers can find products from around the world, as if stepping into a jungle of diversity.
The lower part of the emblem is complemented by a green stripe with white lettering that reads “INTERNATIONAL MARKET,” emphasizing the store’s global selection of goods. This text is written in clean, even letters, adding a sense of order to the overall design.
The logo feels welcoming, simple, and inviting. There is no rigidity or formality, making it a perfect fit for a store where customers can take a break from conventional retail chains and discover something unique.



