Jungle Java to reopen on Jackson Road after legal dispute
Previous story: Federal lawsuit alleges Jungle Java owners conspired to launch competitor, violated franchise agreement Canton-based chain Jungle Java Inc. plans to reopen its Ann Arbor area play cafe about five months after filing a lawsuit against the owners who had been operating the franchise since 2007.
The Jungle Java franchise on Jackson Road opened in 2007.
File photo | AnnArbor.com
The company is "currently hiring all positions" and expects to open in early November, according to a Facebook post today.
The original owners of the Jungle Java franchise on Jackson Road closed the play cafe abruptly this spring and immediately converted the store into a new, similar business called Mocha Mountain.
That prompted a lawsuit from Jungle Java, which accused the owners of violating their franchise agreement by misusing trademarks and proprietary business information, failing to pay certain fees and conspiring to launch a direct competitor. The franchise owners had also faced a separate suit from a Denver-based bank over an unpaid loan totaling more than $349,000.
Mocha Mountain closed shortly after the lawsuits surfaced, and the space has been vacant since.
It was not immediately clear whether the lawsuits had been resolved. Jungle Java's corporate office did not return a call seeking comment, and the new store managers did not respond to an email.
Jungle Java operates stores in Canton, Farmington Hills and Clinton Township.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
Candis Hale
Tue, Oct 25, 2011 : 2:57 a.m.
Well my family never visited it when it was Mocha Mountain but we LOVE Jungle Java!
Les Gov
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 10:54 p.m.
Interesting that some of the same people behind the failed Pittsfield Twp recall and the Walmart fight have failed again. Why is it that the same people keep creating issues? Oh well, I think I heard these people are in Texas now. Good for us, bad for Texas.
Les Gov
Sat, Oct 22, 2011 : 12:49 a.m.
Buster you are right. After the Walmart and recall failed they went on to Jungle Java which also failed in Scio. Now some of them have run to Texas.
Buster W.
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 11:53 p.m.
What does this have to do with Jungle Java/Mocha Mountain on Jackson Road??? The former co-owners of Jungle Java live in Saline.
xmo
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 8:17 p.m.
Why not just call it "Germ Java"!
thatswhatisaid
Sun, Oct 23, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
Agree. It makes me a little uneasy to bring my kids to a place that can't seem to follow the rules of their franchise. The only place of this type I will take my children is the TreeHouse. Their staff is disinfecting and cleaning the equipment and the common areas constantly throughout the day.
KINGofSKA
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 8:14 p.m.
My brother was ast. manager when the Jungle was around. I can't believe they weren't shut down earlier. I wonder if I should apply there...or if it will be a stable place economically.
Andrew
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.
I wonder if the inside will be the same, or did the previous owners gut it?
My2bits
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
What was the franchisee thinking?! Franchise agreements include non-compete agreements. It is good to see justice done. This is a small southeast Michigan operation, that probably did not have deep pockets for a long lawsuit.
MAS
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 : 7:29 p.m.
I have to say it! It's a "Rumble in the Jungle!"