Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea, have spent years working to make a difference in their community by running the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a nonprofit restaurant that feeds those in need.
But now, their mission is facing harsh criticism from Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick, who’s made it clear he wants their pop-up location gone.
The JBJ Soul Kitchen, which first opened in Red Bank in 2011, operates on a unique pay-it-forward model. It’s not a soup kitchen or a “pay-what-you-want” restaurant.
Instead, customers can either pay for their meals or cover the cost for someone else who can’t afford it. The restaurant has since expanded with locations in Newark, Jersey City, and a recent pop-up inside the Ocean County Library in Toms River.
But not everyone is supportive—especially Mayor Rodrick. According to reports, he believes the presence of the restaurant attracts more homeless people to the area and is a threat to public safety.
“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,” the mayor reportedly said. “I want it gone. We don’t think the library is a good place for it.”
Rodrick clarified that his issue wasn’t with Bon Jovi himself but with the Ocean County Board of Commissioners for partnering with nonprofits like the Soul Kitchen.
However, not everyone agrees with the mayor’s take. Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace challenged Rodrick’s claims, stating, “He’s saying that incidents have increased? We have data showing they have not. It’s not a soup kitchen.”
Supporters of Bon Jovi and his philanthropic efforts were quick to defend the restaurant online. “The mayor sounds like an idiot.
He needs to focus on more important things,” one fan commented. Another added, “Some people are just born cruel and evil.”
Critics of Rodrick say this isn’t the first time he’s targeted vulnerable communities. “This Mayor has been nothing but controversial from the beginning.
He closed the Animal Shelter, the Warming Center for the homeless, homeless camps, and even shut down EMS services to a section of town,” one person pointed out.
Despite the backlash, the JBJ Soul Kitchen remains committed to its mission. According to the restaurant’s website, over 208,000 meals have been served so far—59% earned by guests through volunteer work and 41% paid for via donations.
Dorothea Bon Jovi explained that hunger and homelessness are often misunderstood and invisible. “Hunger doesn’t always look like what people expect. It’s the people in your church, the kids in your children’s classes,” she said.
She added that many in the community were shocked to realize that homelessness existed around them. “I can name five people right now in this restaurant who are homeless—but they don’t look like what people imagine,” she shared.
Even in the face of political criticism, the JBJ Soul Kitchen continues to shine a light on compassion, dignity, and community support—offering not just meals, but a message: everyone deserves to be seen and helped.
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