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Take a small piece of Mississippi grocery history along with you. Jitney Jungle traces its roots to a Jackson grocery business founded in 1912, before the first store using the name opened on East Capitol Street in 1919. Its cash-and-carry approach helped define a growing regional chain that eventually reached neighboring states and Florida. This double-sided keychain charm celebrates the distinctive name and local shopping memories that keep Jitney Jungle part of the region’s business history.
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 Double-Sided Keychain Charm
$4.99
Sale price
$4.99
Regular price
Take a small piece of Mississippi grocery history along with you. Jitney Jungle traces its roots to a Jackson grocery business founded in 1912, before the first store using the name opened on East Capitol Street in 1919. Its cash-and-carry approach helped define a growing regional chain that eventually reached neighboring states and Florida. This double-sided keychain charm celebrates the distinctive name and local shopping memories that keep Jitney Jungle part of the region’s business history.
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.
Product features
- Acrylic construction with white base and double-sided print
- Compact size ~3.15" x 1.57" (8 x 4 cm); measurements may vary up to 1"
- Includes metal ring and short chain for secure attachment
- Durable, lightweight—made for everyday carry
- Manufactured product sourced from China; intended for adult use
Care instructions
- Clean with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid any chemicals.