The JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up Café Will Close In Downtown Toms River

According to their website, Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea started the JBJ Soul Foundation in 2006 with the goal of addressing issues like hunger, homelessness, and poverty. From that work came the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a nonprofit restaurant built around the idea of serving good meals in a respectful, welcoming way rather than offering traditional charity.

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The idea of the JBJ Soul Kitchen started with early pilot meals in 2009 and grew into a permanent spot in Red Bank, New Jersey, opening in 2011 inside a renovated old garage.

What Is Happening With The JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up In Downtown Toms River?

According to a recent report from Patch, "The JBJ Soul Kitchen Pop-Up café at the Ocean County Library, which has been serving meals since February 2025, will shut down at the end of January, the JBJ Soul Foundation announced Wednesday."

The temporary pop-up location closing will not impact the JBJ Soul Kitchen on Hooper Avenue. That restaurant, which opened in 2016, continues to serve meals while also helping guests connect with support services aimed at helping them regain stability and move forward.

I have been to both kitchens in Toms River and their location in Red Bank. The work being done is good, and the meals are amazing. Maybe the JBJ Foundation will look for a new pup-up location? Only time will tell.

According to the Patch article, the Foundation said,  "Since this will likely be our final extension, we want the community to know that dining with us is more than just a meal, it’s a way to show support and be part of the fight against food insecurity."