Fairgrounds Café has opened at the site of the former Jungle
Jim’s Café, which was a landmark on the north end and Route 66 for more than
three decades before closing in January 2023.
Jack Ahmedi and Buka Nuhiji purchased the property at 1923 Peoria Road in August and have extensively remodeled it. The couple had initially hoped to be open by February, but due to construction-related delays, the café opened for business May 29.
Nuhiji previously told SBJ her husband’s family owns Chatham Café and she worked there when the couple used to live in Springfield. They most recently lived in Tampa, Florida, before moving back last year.
However, she also has a background in the restaurant industry. “My
parents have owned a restaurant for the past 30 years since they got to the
United States,” Nuhiji said, noting that the family owned and operated various
restaurants in Iowa and Wisconsin. “When my father-in-law told us about Jungle
Jim’s (being on the market), we jumped at the opportunity since we both know
the business. We don’t have kids yet, so we thought, ‘Why not?’”
Nuhiji said she and her husband will both work in the restaurant
full time. Fairgrounds
Café is open seven days a week from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and serves an extensive selection of breakfast and lunch items.
