Usually during my spring break I like to spend one day just cruising around town and seeing what there is to be seen. This morning I decided to drop by one of the long-time merchants with a very specific inventory. Jungle J’s on Rutherford Road carries only two types of items – hats and knives – and they have plenty of both.
The building is easy to overlook. It’s not in a strip mall or anything that would get lots of regular traffic. According to the owner, they have been in business for 40 years, and since 1983 they have been in this location. They also seem to have limited hours. I tried stopping by after work a couple of weeks ago but they weren’t open.
If you do happen to catch them open, what you will find is a treasure trove of hats and knives. Jungle J’s carries just about any type of hat imaginable. I saw Stetsons, bowler hats, straw hats, pimp hats, Fedoras, and just about anything else. They also have a selection of classic men’s hats from the 1960, and not just the narrow-brimmed knock-offs that kids today are wearing. I think the only type of hat I didn’t see was a top hat.
Jungle J’s says that it has the largest collection of Case knives in the area, and I believe them. Display case after display case featured pocket knives of just about every shape and size. There were beautifully inlaid handles and knives costing hundreds of dollars. It was all a bit overwhelming.
Somehow I managed to escape without making a purchase, but there were several items from both categories that caught my eye.
So, if you are ever in need of a hat or a knife, or if you just want to see a cool collection, drop by Jungle J’s. The owners are super nice, and I think you could find just about any type of hat to suit your style.