Jungle Jim’s to open second location, ‘jungalize’ building

Clermont County store not a replacement, staff stresses

FAIRFIELD — Jungle Jim’s supermarket is adding a new location to offer its products from more than 75 countries to shoppers in Clermont County’s Union Twp.

Jungle Jim’s director of development Phil Adams confirmed Friday an agreement has been reached to open a store in the former Biggs near Eastgate Mall. He said Jungle Jim’s International Market has been looking to expand for nearly 10 years, and the new Clermont County location meets its needs.

“This particular location worked out perfect,” he said, noting highway accessibility and the distance from Jungle Jim’s in Fairfield. “We didn’t want it too close or too far,” he said.

Timothy Donnellon, Union Twp. Board of Trustees chairman, said the township began talking to Jungle Jim’s in April, shortly after the Biggs closed at 4450 Eastgate Blvd. The township will purchase the property for $7.5 million, and Jungle Jim’s will repay the township a little more than $10 million during eight years, Donnellon said.

Adams reassured the grocery store’s fans that this is an expansion, not a relocation.

“We are not leaving Fairfield,” he said.

While a time frame has not been set, Adams said he expects the store to open in early 2012. The store will employ 300 to 350 people, he said. Jungle Jim’s currently employs 425 people.

Jungle Jim’s, while a local favorite, has also garnered national attention. The market will be featured on the History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” airing Friday, Oct. 29.

It has also been featured on “Good Morning America” and the Food Network.

And while the agreements have been signed and the expansion is official, Jungle Jim’s staff knows they have a lot of work ahead of them.

“We have to ‘jungalize’ that building,” Adams said.

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