Jon Bon Jovi's charity restaurant opens in NJ (a "pay-what-you-can" restaurant)

[Kadie]

Jon Bon Jovi's charity restaurant opens in NJ
By WAYNE PARRY
Associated Press


RED BANK, N.J. (AP) -- In three decades as one of the world's biggest rock stars, Jon Bon Jovi has eaten in some of the world's best restaurants, savoring the best food the planet has to offer.

Yet there's no place he'd rather have dinner than The Soul Kitchen, a "pay-what-you-can" restaurant he and his wife Dorothea established in a former auto body shop near the Red Bank train station in central New Jersey.

The restaurant provides gourmet-quality meals to the hungry while enabling them to volunteer on community projects in return without the stigma of visiting a soup kitchen. Paying customers are encouraged to leave whatever they want in the envelopes on each table, where the menus never list a price.

The restaurant is the latest undertaking by the New Jersey rocker's Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which has built 260 homes for low-income residents in recent years.

more...
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BON_JOVI_CHARITY_RESTAURANT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Rock star Jon Bon Jovi sits in the Soul Kitchen restaurant in Red Bank, N.J., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, during the opening of the restaurant which is designed to help the hungry without the stigma of a soup kitchen. Diners pay whatever they're able to. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

[lbrtbell]

1. He's a great guy to do this - n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. How wonderful.

:) What a great humanitarian. :loveya: K&R!

[Ineeda]

3. This is a good man.

I hope his well-off friends and neighbors, who will undoubtedly eat there too, leave big wads of cash in those envelopes.

[rocktivity]

4. Oh, good -- now I know what to do if I don't have date for New Years!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Little Star]

5. This man doesn't get enough recognition! Now, he is a real humanitarian!

[Faux pas]

6. Already had a crush on him. Good to know I have great taste.

[tech5270]

7. My ex met him at the gym she used to go to

never heard anything bad about him.

[fishwax]

8. sounds pretty cool

:kick:

[chollybocker]

9. 'Isn't it wonderful!'

This effort reminds me of the depression-era Father Divine Peace Mission Movement, but now modern, without the religious trappings or racist opposition.

Kudos to JBJ and the Soul Foundation. I'm gonna look them up and donate a few bucks.

[aikoaiko]

10. I now forfive him for his 80s big hair.

The slate is wiped clean, friend.



I hope his venture succeeds.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. My oldest daughter was the hugest JBJ fan

when she was in high school. She had lifesize posters of him on all her bedroom walls. We all went to see Bon Jovi when they came up here sometime in the late '80s or early '90s. It was a really fun show. Worth the money.

[aikoaiko]

46. Growing up in the NJ suburbs in the 80s, one had to take a stand on Bon Jovi....

...and be willing to bring the debate to resolution through fist fighting. I could not see taking a beating for him then.

But I am proud of his efforts to help now.

[SomethingFishy]

20. Hey he probably employed 10 people to keep his hair like that

Maybe that's what we need. A return to big hair bands :rofl:

[monmouth]

11. Self Delete.

[flvegan]

12. I am so thankful he has had such great success.

He's using it well. Good on him.

[customerserviceguy]

13. My lady and I visit Red Bank every once in awhile

She's from that area, and has friends and family that live near there. We may have to stop by and leave a good chunk of change in that envelope.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. What a great idea!

I wish other folks with huge incomes would do this all over our country!

There is so much need...

Good for him!

[beac]

15. What a great idea!

Bravo, Mr. Bon Jovi! :applause:

I found the restaurant's website: http://www.jbjsoulkitchen.org/

They even have their own veggie garden.

[Electric Monk]

16. k&r

[femrap]

17. Cool woman and man. nt

[Blue_In_AK]

18. This is a very positive thing for them to do.

I like the reciprocity of it. Each person has a part to play in reaping the common benefit. That's cooperation. :thumbsup:

[DCKit]

21. Mmmmmmmmmm.

"...with entrees like cornmeal crusted catfish with red beans and rice, grilled chicken breast with homemade basil mayo and rice pilaf, and grilled salmon with soul seasonings, sweet potato mash and sauteed greens, many of which were grown in the herb and vegetable garden right outside the restaurant's doors."

[Amonester]

22. My GF is in love with him!

Now moi 2! :rofl:

[mother earth]

53. Add me to that list. :)

[AverageJoe90]

23. Just another thing I like about Bon Jovi. =) nt

[ObaMania]

24. Too, too awesome.

Thank God for people like him.

Just think.. if more people of means did this, the US would be a better place.

[a la izquierda]

25. My husband and I are hoping to go...

next year when we go home to visit our families. We grew up about 10 minutes from there. Good on him!

[City Lights]

26. Kudos! Great idea!

Rec'd.

[xchrom]

27. Awesome. nt

[Pacifist Patriot]

28. Oh I feel so guilty now.

Whenever I hear one of his newer songs on the radio I cringe, tune in to another station and wonder what the hell he's thinking in the studio. Clearly his mind and his heart are totally in the right place.

[Firebrand Gary]

29. K&R This is a great story.

[colsohlibgal]

30. So Cool

Conscience.....Empathy.......we have it, wingnuts don't, and obviously Jon is one of us, way to step up.

[SammyWinstonJack]

31. Wow!

:applause: :yourock:

[fascisthunter]

32. Great Idea! Kudos to he and his wife

brilliant idea!!!!

[DainBramaged]

33. Bon Jovi and Springsteen, NJ's brightest shining stars

fuck jersey Shore and their bullshit.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

34. Not a fan of the music.

But now I like him.

[Buns_of_Fire]

35. I used to make fun of Bon Jovi. No more.

:yourock:

[flamingdem]

36. Me too. I take it all back! He's extra cool, who knew

Jersey rocks :)

[VWolf]

38. Same here. Having been raised in Jersey, I'm more of a

Springsteen guy, but Jon Bon Jovi's humanitarian work has been nothing short of heroic.

[jwirr]

37. When I attended the University of Iowa in the 70s there was a restaurant

that was like this - you could volunteer to work and many donated to keep it running. Good food.

[GiveMeFreedom]

39. Good on him! n/t

[KamaAina]

40. Wonder if Mom and I could convince Republican Stepdad to go

their weekend place is in Long Branch, right next door.

[whatchamacallit]

41. Now that's a 1%er!

Good on him!

[Snotcicles]

42. I love the smell of a new found respect. nt

[anamandujano]

43. I hope some rich folks drop in to offset losses.

This is such a feel good event.

[Maat]

44. Blessings to you and your family, Jon.

You have helped so many.

[a2liberal]

45. K&R (n/t)

[harmonicon]

47. Rich people are adorable. nt.

[emmadoggy]

48. Not a huge fan of his music, but I have always liked him.

He just always seemed very nice and down-to-earth in the interviews I saw. Now I like him even more! This is an absolutely brilliant idea and I wish he and his wife every success with it. I hope it stays open for a very long time and that it spurs others to do the same across the country.

[hifiguy]

49. That is one good guy.

Didn't care for his 1980s music, but he and his wife get nothing but kudos and bravos from me for such a wonderful humanitarian project. :applause:

[Avalux]

50. I've never been a fan of his music, but this is wonderful. Good for him.

And this is a great example of what people of wealth should be doing - giving back.

[davidwparker]

51. K&R

[mother earth]

52. There's so much to love about Jon Bon Jovi! :)

[defendandprotect]

54. What a wonderful thing to do -- !!! And to hear about !!

[Joe Bacon]

55. Reminds me of Clifton's Cafeteria in Los Angeles

During the Depression, Clifton's had the same policy, allowing people to pay what they could.

[The Doctor.]

56. Though I was never a big fan of his music, I'm glad it put money in his hands.

He is one of those that should have money, lots.

Megapoints scored.

[hay rick]

57. Monmouth County rocks.

Springsteen and Bon Jovi. Read about the restaurant recently but never even heard about building the low-income housing- and I'm local.

I also see a Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties truck driving around- donated by Bon Jovi.

Apparently does a lot without seeking credit. Definitely one of the good guys.

[Kat45]

60. I had heard about the housing.

But this is the first I've heard about the restaurant. Kudos to Mr. Bongiovi.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

58. Fantastic idea

Hopefully it will mushroom all over the country.

For those of us too far to visit and chow down, maybe order a couple of "Hope Is Delicious" T-shirts for Christmas presents. This venture needs visibility and support.

K&R :applause:

[Michigan-Arizona]

59. K&R n/t