A pop-up diner founded by stone celebrity Jon Bon Jovi has sparked a political and community outcry in Toms River, New Jersey, with governor Daniel Rodrick claiming that the eatery is bringing many unemployed people to the city’s public library and raising concerns about public security.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen, which opened in the Ocean County Library’s Toms River tree in February, offers pay-what-you-can dishes and allows customers to “pay it ahead” or volunteering in exchange for the donated foods. The non-profit JBJ Soul Foundation, which is run by Bon Jovi and family Dorothea, aims to provide dignity and exposure to foods while connecting customers with information on cover, emotional health, and work assistance.
Rodrick, however, has repeatedly accused the group house of turning the library into a “day house and dish home,” claiming that it draws unhoused people from all over New Jersey and beyond, increasing calls for help and worsening living conditions for people.
According to USA Today,” Mothers shouldn’t have to walk through large gangs of intoxicated and mentally ill men with their children to borrow a book.”
The library, especially close to Toms River High School South, is not a place for a soup kitchen, according to the mayor. He attributed “bussing in” unhoused individuals and putting strain on local resources to JBJ Soul Kitchen and other nonprofits, as reported by Fox News Digital.
Ocean County Commissioner Jennifer Bacchione defended the Soul Kitchen, saying it is not a soup kitchen and does not require patrons to work hard. According to Bacchione,” The pop-up does not give away food for free,” Bacchione said, adding that customers are expected to contribute by volunteering or cleaning up.
She claimed that the pop-up’s main goal was to attract homeless people rather than serve courthouse staff, library staff, students, and local workers.
In a statement to the New York Post, Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea rebuffed the claim that the Soul Kitchen uses homelessness for profit and urged people to stop by the BEAT Center in Toms River or the library pop-up to see their work. They continued,” We are not here to just force people into the shadows or move them.”
Rodrick, who hasn’t spoken directly to the Bon Jovi foundation, claimed the project “ran rough right over the municipality” and is considering filing legal action against other nonprofits that he claims have overburden the town with residents from as far away as North Carolina and Philadelphia, according to NBC News.
He added that he made it clear that his legal team is not pursuing the Soul Kitchen itself.
The Soul Kitchen pop-up is set to expire on May 23 and be replaced by its current lease. The commissioners have not yet decided whether to continue the partnership.
In the interim, the town continues to be divided by the debate over homelessness and public safety. While some residents share Rodrick’s concerns, others, including restaurant patrons, claim that the Soul Kitchen has been a valuable aid during challenging times. According to NBC News, the nonprofit maintains that it is” committed to ending homelessness through real solutions” and has already assisted in the construction of nearly a thousand affordable housing units throughout the state.
