Mallorie Sullivan

msullivan@enquirer.com

Last week, Jungle Jim’s International Market was a destination for hard-to-find groceries from around the world, beer and wine, myriad gifts, and services including Urgent Care and an eye doctor.

That all changed overnight – literally.

Visitors of the Fairfield supermarket were met on July 7 with two brand-new gyms, several locations to score free items and hundreds of wild Pokémon awaiting capture by those who have been determined to “catch ‘em all” since 1995.

Wait, what?

Yes, Jungle Jim’s in Fairfield has been claimed by Pokémon Go, the free-to-play, location-based, augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic that has taken (most) of the world by storm since its July 6 release.

And, by the looks of it, the Fairfield location is making the most of it. On July 8, the supermarket posted a map of where to find Pokestops, the free-item drops planted at significant locations, and Pokémon Gyms, where players go to train and to fight their Pokémon.

On Monday, a quick walk through the store led to employees finding almost 60 people playing the game, according to Jungle Jim's Social Media and Content Coordinator Jared Bowers. And that was only inside.

“We estimate that roughly 300 or more people were here solely Pokémon hunting, some until almost 4:30 in the morning,” Bowers said in an email to The Enquirer.

The supermarket, happy to share in the players’ quest to be the very best (like no one ever was), took the craze one step further Monday by announcing a Pokémon Go meetup dubbed “Battle for the Monorail Station,” an homage to the trains mounted outside the store.

Players from each team – Valor, Mystic and Instinct, for those unfamiliar with the game – are invited to take part in the supermarket’s battle, which will be held July 20 from 6-8 p.m. in the Snake House behind the Fairfield store, according to the Facebook event.

And, while Pokémon don’t need food, snacks and beverages will be available for those who need to refuel while hunting for, training and fighting their Pokémon, according to the event page.

“We think (the battle) could be one of the weirdest/most fun events we’ll have here this summer,” Bowers said in an email.

If you go

What: The Battle for the Monorail Station

When: Wednesday, July 20, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Jungle Jim’s in Fairfield

For more information, visit the Battle for the Monorail Station Facebook event.