Ohio grocery store sells kangaroo jerky and hosts weddings

Forget boring grocery runs. One Ohio store proves that buying food can be as exciting as visiting an amusement park.

Jungle Jim's International Market in Fairfield, Ohio, spans over 200,000 square feet and stocks items you won't find anywhere else in America. Shoppers can grab camel milk, kangaroo jerky, ostrich eggs, and ground yak alongside their regular groceries.

The store's founder, James O. Bonaminio, started with a simple produce stand in 1971. He worked 21-hour days and lived in a gas station for two years while bouncing from parking lot to parking lot. "We went from corner to corner because we didn't have any money," Bonaminio said.

In 1974, he finally secured land for a permanent location with help from a kind co-signer who believed in his vision. By 1975, the store opened and never stopped growing.

Today, Jungle Jim's carries over 180,000 products from more than 70 countries. The International Department alone features 70,000 items. Shoppers can browse a "Butter Bar" stocked with European and American varieties, explore 17,000 wine options, or wander through 1.5 acres of fresh produce.

The store doubles as entertainment, complete with a monorail and animatronics throughout. Customers can even grab a drink while shopping in the Wine and Beer Department.

The Ripple Effect

Jungle Jim's turned a chore into a destination. The average customer spends three hours exploring, and first dates happen there regularly. "People don't like to grocery shop," Bonaminio explained. "I took it and turned it into a fun thing with the family."

The store now hosts weddings at its Oscar Event Center, which holds up to 750 guests. It also runs a cooking school and multiple event spaces, creating jobs and bringing joy to the community.

What started as one man's determination to succeed became a place where shopping feels like an adventure worth taking.