<?php
$array = array(
    'My business' => array(
        'hours' => '9 a.m. to 5 p.m.',
        'volume' => '100db',
        'color' => 'black'
    ),
    'New Business' => array(
        'hours' => '8 a.m. to 7 p.m.',
        'volume' => '200db',
        'color' => 'blue'
    )
);

echo json_encode( $array );
//{"My business":{"hours":"9 a.m. to 5 p.m.","volume":"100db","color":"black"},"New Business":{"hours":"8 a.m. to 7 p.m.","volume":"200db","color":"blue"}}




$array = json_decode( '{"My business":{"hours":"9 a.m. to 5 p.m.","volume":"100db","color":"black"},"New Business":{"hours":"8 a.m. to 7 p.m.","volume":"200db","color":"blue"}}' );
print_r( $array );

Object (
    [My business] => Object
        (
            [hours] => 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
            [volume] => 100db
            [color] => black
        )

    [New Business] => Object
        (
            [hours] => 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
            [volume] => 200db
            [color] => blue
        )
)