Skip to product information
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Mark the season with a keepsake honoring Jitney Jungle, a distinctive name in Mississippi grocery history. The company’s roots began in Jackson in 1912, and the first Jitney Jungle opened on East Capitol Street in 1919 with a cash-and-carry approach. Its growth across the region and later changes in ownership make it an intriguing part of local business history. This ceramic ornament is a fitting choice for collectors and families who remember the brand as part of their community’s shopping story.
Jitney Jungle began with a grocery store founded in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1912 by brothers Judson McCarty Holman and William Henry Holman and their cousin William Bonner McCarty. After experimenting with a cash-and-carry approach, the founders opened the first Jitney Jungle on East Capitol Street in Jackson on April 19, 1919. They patented the concept in 1920 and successfully defended it in a lawsuit brought by Piggly Wiggly. The chain grew across Mississippi and neighboring states, eventually reaching Florida. In 1965, it joined Topco, a cooperative purchasing association. By 1973, the company had 38 grocery stores, six gasoline stations, and five drugstores; by 1992, it had more than 100 stores. Its convenience-store subsidiary, Jr. Food Mart, was formed in the 1960s. In the mid-1990s, the family sold Jitney Jungle to investment firm Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. The company’s 1997 acquisition of Delchamps contributed to its debt problems. Winn-Dixie acquired both chains in 2000 and rebranded the stores. In 2005, Winn-Dixie closed many locations, including most former Jitney Jungle stores in Mississippi.
Jitney Jungle Ceramic Ornament
$15.99
Sale price
$15.99
Regular price
Mark the season with a keepsake honoring Jitney Jungle, a distinctive name in Mississippi grocery history. The company’s roots began in Jackson in 1912, and the first Jitney Jungle opened on East Capitol Street in 1919 with a cash-and-carry approach. Its growth across the region and later changes in ownership make it an intriguing part of local business history. This ceramic ornament is a fitting choice for collectors and families who remember the brand as part of their community’s shopping story.
Jitney Jungle began with a grocery store founded in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1912 by brothers Judson McCarty Holman and William Henry Holman and their cousin William Bonner McCarty. After experimenting with a cash-and-carry approach, the founders opened the first Jitney Jungle on East Capitol Street in Jackson on April 19, 1919. They patented the concept in 1920 and successfully defended it in a lawsuit brought by Piggly Wiggly. The chain grew across Mississippi and neighboring states, eventually reaching Florida. In 1965, it joined Topco, a cooperative purchasing association. By 1973, the company had 38 grocery stores, six gasoline stations, and five drugstores; by 1992, it had more than 100 stores. Its convenience-store subsidiary, Jr. Food Mart, was formed in the 1960s. In the mid-1990s, the family sold Jitney Jungle to investment firm Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. The company’s 1997 acquisition of Delchamps contributed to its debt problems. Winn-Dixie acquired both chains in 2000 and rebranded the stores. In 2005, Winn-Dixie closed many locations, including most former Jitney Jungle stores in Mississippi.
| Heart | Round | |
| Diameter, in | 3.21 | 2.80 |
Product features
- 100% white ceramic construction — strong and durable
- Double-sided print with matte finish option
- Golden hanging string included
- UV-decorated for lasting color
- Available in white or gold gift packaging (single ornament per pack)
Care instructions
- Use a microfiber cloth to gently remove any dust or dirt build-up. Avoid harsh chemicals or cleaners. Instead, dampen a cotton wool swab in warm water (just a few drops per liter of water) and gently roll the swab over the ornament and refrain from scrubbing