1The Ocean County Library in Toms River, once a cherished sanctuary for learning and research, has become a shadow of its former self.

County officials, in their decision to allow Jon Bon Jovi’s JBJ Soul Kitchen to operate a pop-up cafe within the library’s walls, have effectively transformed this public institution into a de facto homeless shelter and soup kitchen.

While the JBJ Soul Kitchen, launched in February 2025, aims to address hunger and connect people to resources, its presence in the library has brought unintended consequences that threaten the safety and well-being of the community.

The decision by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners to approve and renew the lease for the Soul Kitchen’s pop-up, originally set to run through May, has drawn sharp criticism from Toms River

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