Bon Jovi’s Charity Kitchen Sparks Political Battle
Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi’s charitable restaurant has become the center of a heated political dispute in Toms River, New Jersey. Mayor Dan Rodrick is pushing to shut down the JBJ Soul Kitchen pop-up location, claiming it attracts unhoused individuals to the Ocean County community of nearly 100,000 residents.
The temporary location, operating inside the Ocean County Library since February, follows the “pay it forward” model established at Bon Jovi’s permanent restaurant locations in Red Bank, Toms River, Newark, and Jersey City. According to NBC News, patrons can pay a suggested donation or volunteer their time in exchange for meals.
“We appreciate that Bon Jovi wants to feed people that are needy,” Rodrick told NBC News. “But the public library down a block from a school is not the appropriate place to bus homeless in from all over the state of New Jersey and other states.”
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Rock Star Philanthropy Meets Small-Town Politics
The JBJ Soul Kitchen operates on a unique model distinct from traditional soup kitchens. “There are no prices on our menu,” the restaurant states on its website. “Instead, we offer a suggested donation to our paying customers and we ask that you Pay it Forward to cover the cost of those who are unable to pay for their meals.”
Since its inception, the network of Soul Kitchen locations has served over 208,000 meals. According to the foundation’s official statistics, 59 percent of these meals were earned through volunteer work, while 41 percent were covered by monetary donations, as reported by People.
The Bon Jovis have emphasized their commitment to addressing root causes rather than simply relocating unhoused individuals. “The JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchen are committed to ending homelessness through real solutions. We are not here to just move people around or force them into the shadows,” the couple stated in a joint release last week, as reported by CBS New York.
A New Jersey mayor is starting beef with Jon Bon Jovi after the singer’s charity restaurant opened a pop-up in his town to help feed unhoused people. https://t.co/99KMs4grKh
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) April 11, 2025
Local Impact Disputed by Officials
Mayor Rodrick claims the restaurant is transforming Toms River into a hub for people experiencing homelessness. “They’re not from Toms River and Toms River should not have to bear the brunt of homelessness for the entire county of Ocean, especially when not a single one of these folks are from Toms River,” he told NBC News.
The mayor’s concerns extend to safety issues. “It’s a real safety concern. These folks aren’t vetted,” Rodrick said to CBS New York. He reportedly suggested that the library location was inappropriate, telling NJ Advance Media, “If they’re going to turn this into a homeless shelter, hell, cut everybody a check and give them a Barnes and Noble gift card.”
Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace strongly disputes these claims. “He’s saying that incidents have increased? We have data that they have not increased. It is not a soup kitchen,” Arace told CBS New York. The commissioner also denied the mayor’s assertion that the county is transporting unhoused individuals to Toms River.
Community Voices Support Kitchen’s Mission
Despite the political discord, many community members have expressed appreciation for the restaurant’s mission. One patron named Michael, who is currently unhoused, described the pop-up as “a blessing” to CBS New York.
“It’s something that you feel from the heart where someone has done something for the community,” he said. Another patron, Devon, added, “It’s just a really nice place for us when we are hungry.”
The foundation’s work has received high-profile endorsements in the past. During the 10th anniversary of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in 2016, former President Bill Clinton praised the initiative, saying, “I came here to add my voice of thanks to Jon and Dorothea, who house the homeless and feed the hungry. And remind us all that underneath our differences, we’re not so different after all,” as reported by People.
Uncertain Future for Pop-Up Location
According to NBC News, an attorney representing the Ocean County Library Commission confirmed that the JBJ pop-up has a lease that runs until May 23. While the town has no immediate legal mechanism to force the closure of the restaurant, Mayor Rodrick indicated his legal team is exploring potential lawsuits.
Ocean County Commissioner Arace confirmed to CBS New York that the pop-up is scheduled to remain at the library until May, in accordance with its original temporary arrangement.
As the dispute continues, the core of the debate centers on balancing community resources with humanitarian needs—a challenge facing many communities nationwide as they address issues of food insecurity and homelessness.
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