TOMS RIVER — Many of the homeless who were living in a downtown parking garage homeless encampment are gone, and the Ocean County Board of Commissioners has once again extended the lease of a soup kitchen operating within the library.
The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Kitchen inside the Ocean County Library will continue serving through August after county commissioners approved a one-month lease extension, prolonging a debate over the nonprofit’s role in the downtown community.
The lease, which was originally set to expire at the end of July, allows the Soul Kitchen to remain in operation inside the library branch through August 31. County officials confirmed the extension this week following public discussion and scrutiny surrounding the program.
Located inside the Ocean County Library on Washington Street, JBJ Soul Kitchen opened its Toms River location this year, after operating a location on Hooper Avenue since 2021, as a pay-what-you-can community restaurant operated by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.
The site serves meals to patrons regardless of their ability to pay, with the mission of addressing food insecurity while offering volunteer opportunities and dignity to diners in need.
Though widely praised by supporters for offering free and low-cost meals in a discreet and inclusive environment, the location has become a focal point of controversy over the past year. Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick and residents have criticized the restaurant’s presence in the public library building, claiming it has drawn more homeless individuals into the downtown area.
Opponents also link the Soul Kitchen’s operation to broader concerns about homelessness in Toms River, particularly near the municipal parking garage and the library campus. Supporters of the program argue that it provides a vital service to vulnerable residents and promotes community responsibility.
The one-month extension provides time for the county and Soul Foundation representatives to explore long-term options.
The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation operates additional Soul Kitchen locations in Red Bank and at Rutgers University-Newark. Each site follows a model where patrons can either pay for their meal or volunteer their time in exchange for food.
