The JBJ Soul Kitchen, the nonprofit community restaurant founded by Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, continues to operate and serve meals even as one of its temporary locations closes this month.
JBJ Soul Kitchen runs multiple community-focused sites in New Jersey, including permanent restaurants in Red Bank and on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, where guests can receive three-course meals through the restaurant’s “Pay It Forward” model.
Under this approach, diners make a suggested donation or volunteer time in exchange for a meal. Those who can afford it are encouraged to support others in need.
A temporary pop-up location inside the Ocean County Library in Toms River, which opened in February 2025, is scheduled to close on 30 January 2026 after nearly a year of service, according to local reports.
The pop-up provided thousands of meals and connected guests with community resources but faced challenges securing long-term institutional support.
Despite the pop-up’s closure, the permanent Soul Kitchen locations remain open, with regular operating hours listed on the official website. The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation reaffirmed its mission to address food insecurity in 2026.