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Busting bad dish!

Hot Topics Jennifer Lawrence Kim Kardashian Rihanna Robert Pattinson Beyonce Justin Bieber Kristen Stewart

Jon Bon Jovi Opens Pay-What-You-Can Restaurant in New Jersey

Truth rating: 10

6:32 pm, October 19th, 2011

(GettyImages)

Jon Bon Jovi can sure dish it out, and doesn’t want you to pay (full price) for it.

Along with his wife, Dorethea, the rocker today opened a restaurant in Red Bank, New Jersey called The Soul Kitchen, where patrons pay what they can.

The restaurant is the latest endeavor by the singer, whose Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has built more than 250 homes for low-income residents.

“When I learned that one in six people in this country goes to bed hungry, I thought this was the next phase of the Foundation’s work,” Bon Jovi told the Associated Press.

“This is not a soup kitchen,” stressed the singer. “You can come here with the dignity of linens and silver, and you’re served a healthy, nutritious meal.”

Bon Jovi explained, ”There’s no prices on our menu, so if you want to come and you want to make a difference, leave a $20 in the envelope [provided] on the table. If you can’t afford to eat, you can bus tables, you can wait tables, you can work in the kitchen as a dishwasher or sous chef.”

If someone doesn’t want to do that, “We’ll take you back to [local food pantry] Lunch Break to volunteer with those people,” said Bon Jovi.

Once someone volunteers at Lunch break, for example, that person gets a certificate for a meal at The Soul Kitchen.

“If you come in and say, ‘I’m hungry,’ we’ll feed you,” said Bon Jovi, who emphasized, “But we’re going to need you to do something… This is not an entitlement thing. This is about empowering people because you have to earn that gift certificate.”

But if someone can more easily afford dinner at The Soul Kitchen, Bon Jovi asks those patrons to pay market value for their meals or even more to help sustain The Soul Kitchen.

What do you think of Bon Jovi’s revolutionary restaurant?

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  • Anonymous

    That’s putting your money where your mouth is and using your celebrity status for good and not evil. I hope the restaurant’s a huge success.

  • Judi

    What a great idea.

  • AF Wife

    This is a fantastic and revolutionary idea! I love the fact that he’s not just giving people meals for free, that even people with no money at all can get a good meal, but they have to work for it. Jon and his wife are incredibly generous and innovative people, and I wish them and this restaurant many, many years of success. Awesome!!!

  • Anonymous

    I’m surprised someone so rich & famous who already has the love & adoration of the world, would be even bothered to do something so unusual and useful to the world. It’s almost a stretch than someone who has the world on a string would interrupt their life in the lap of luxury to help make the world a better place for the less fortunate. Is there a catch? Will he actually make a big profit?

  • Velvetstaccato

    In an era where “celebs” will do anything to gain publicity and attention, I think what he’s doing is nothing short of heroic! What a great way to give back and help those who really need it. I hope what he’s doing garners more attention. Celebs are always criticized for the seemingly negative things they do but the press rarely ever mentions them when they do good deeds! Thank you for looking out for your fellow man, Jon!

  • Guest

    There should be more restaurants like this and businesses in general. I think it would really help people who can’t afford nice meals feed themselves and others

  • Phweston0269

    Jon is well known by local NJ residents for his generosity and kindness. I can assure you there is no Catch!

  • Anonymous

    His probably going to loose money. I admire him for doing it but I hope people don’t take advantage of it.

  • MIKE DILLINGER

    i was there for his opening .. bravo Jon ! Bravo ! reminds me of a song by Lennon . Imagine! can we ?

  • Madmorse

    Why is this man not in the White House???? Hint Hint

  • Jorya399

    i would love to volunteer for this. I think this is fantastic>> Always loved Jon Bon Jovi, Now I love him even more!!!!!more

  • http://www.newyorkmatt.com/ Jovi Forever!!

    He has such great hair and face for restaurants taboot! LOL!
    Keep on rockin Jon, we hope you make it to the moon and back, especially with your steel horse.
    Sexy!

  • http://www.newyorkmatt.com/ Jovi Forever!!

    He has such great hair and face for restaurants taboot! LOL!
    Keep on rockin Jon, we hope you make it to the moon and back, especially with your steel horse.
    Sexy!

  • http://www.newyorkmatt.com/ Jovi Forever!!

    He has such great hair and face for restaurants taboot! LOL!
    Keep on rockin Jon, we hope you make it to the moon and back, especially with your steel horse.
    Sexy!

  • She_devil_biker

    Yes, it would be great of there were more places like this, but they’d all need to be run by wealthy people, because your average restaurant owner could not afford to run their business that way.

  • She_devil_biker

    Yes, it would be great of there were more places like this, but they’d all need to be run by wealthy people, because your average restaurant owner could not afford to run their business that way.

  • She_devil_biker

    Yes, it would be great of there were more places like this, but they’d all need to be run by wealthy people, because your average restaurant owner could not afford to run their business that way.

  • Gypsybaby71

    I don’t know Jon personally, but he’s not actually out to make a profit here, he’s not out to conquer the hearts and minds of the world, or as you intimated, doing it so that people will love him…….he’s not giving hand outs either…he’s giving a hand up…because he can. Its not an interuption to his life in the lap of luxury(love how you just assume because he’s rich…he’s happy), its a continuation, of the things he’s already done and doing with his life. He recognizes that he has the power to help people and is doing just that. he’s also helped pay for and build over 250 houses for low income earners…..as well as many other philanthropic enterprises that he’s involved in now or has been in the past…….I think you should do some research instead of just criticising him out of hand….It would seem to me, that you are a little prejudiced or jealous of the guy….cos he’s rich……If you had any idea how hard that man has worked to earn his money, then perhaps you would think before you write…next time. There will be a next time…cos there always is with people like you!

  • Boujas

    This is fantastic until some jerk off ruins it by getting hurt in the kitchen and sues him.

  • Juli

    Jon is an inspiration to all of us. Next time I’m in Jeresy I will stop by for a meal and pay triple the market value. Jon – you are an ideas man and I love you!

  • Remv2

    Two Words…….Class Act !!!!

  • cares

    Wonderful!! I wish there were more places like that with the idea of “earning” your dinner.

  • Ssamziest

    Some inspiration you are Jon Bon Jovi! I wish I could do the same someday! (:

  • Sdddd

    Are foreigners allowed to volunteer? It would be against immigration laws.

  • CW60020

    *ANY “STAR’s” Out There Willing to “Franchise The Start Of A Restaurant” w/Start-up Costs… Simulair To: [[ SOUL RESTAURANT ]] *In The United States… *Please Contact Us: We Will Provide Our Management Services for FREE! ****{RMG, Int’l. LLC}**** ****See Below Info.!
    *Pls. Contact: [[ "The Patricia W. Knox Living Revocable Trust" ]] c/o Rockies Management Group, Int’l. LLC @ Hugh W. Holder, Inc. P.O. Box 0681 Lodi, CA USA 95241-0681 Ph. (209) 333-0450
    *Pls. Leave A Voicemail Message w/Your Information For Our Review. Thank’s!
    *Area’s in Great Need… East Bay Area’s Of California… Antioch, Brentwood, Galt, Lodi, Merced,
    Modesto, Sacramento, Stockton, Turlock, California…. Colorado Springs, Denver, Colorado

    *Jon… Great Idea…
    *Let Me Help You To Rekindle This Idea Many Times Over!
    *Let’s Feed The Starving & The Homeless Of America!

    *Y/OURS,

    [[ Bruce W Satre Jr C.E.O./AIF/POA/TTE ]]
    The Patricial Wenzel Knox Liv. Rev. Trust @
    HUGH WILLIAM HOLDER, INCORPORATED

  • MuSliMpRiNcESs

    Jon, you are so extraordinary, God bless you for doing suck a thoughtful thing….I will always be a fan ….you are not only a brilliant rock star but always a great person with good intentions, luv you :)))

  • Dawntague

    Ive never heard of such a place, but had always said that restaurants at the end of the night should do something to this effect. But to have one that is specifically for this reason is, for lack of better wording at this time, AWESOME!
    I think that more famous/wealthy people should do something of this sort! Its not only helping the less fortunate to feel better about needing help with feeding themselves and their family by being able to work the meal off…but for the entrepreneurs it is a good deed as well as a tax write off…
    Thank You Jon and Dorthea for all the good that you do for the less fortunate in your community as well as others…others need to follow your lead.

  • Stayinhome2nite
  • Dreamdamsel

    There is a restaurant like that in Singapore and perhaps other parts of the world. It’s a hindu vegetarian restaurant, with similar concept and they are doing pretty well.

  • Suzigirl711

    pay it foward, that is what he is all about! Love him!

  • Gmi_kmt

    It’s so refreshing to hear that someone with money, such as Bon Jovi’s, is using it to help others who don’t have much. And he’s not just giving a meal away without the person keeping their dignity. They will be able to work for it. What a great idea!! Bless you, Jon.

  • HammerDoc

    Bad business, but who said business is what it’s all about? (HINT: It’s not–business is just a means to an end.)

    I think this is a great and Christian-like thing to do. (I don’t know whether JBJ is or isn’t . . . for his sake I hope he is, of course.)

  • HammerDoc

    I wish that wasn’t true. I honestly hope that there is enough Christian sentiment left in this country for this restaurant to carry on for a long time and become an example for others. Sadly, I am not holding my breath waiting that . . .

  • ilovemy4children

    It’s a wonderful idea, a ‘give, give’ situation, keep up the good work and best wishes to the both of you.

  • Karsuewil

    i love you Bon Jovi, always have always will. I knew you were a better humanitarian.

  • Nicky Daniels

    What a fantastic idea.. Maybe other wealthy people can take a page out of ur book.. The world needs more people like you .. We don’t take anything with us when we are dead.. Good on ya mate.. ( I would personally thank you if I could.. Love u forever .. Nicky from Australia x

  • Sparkx

    sparkx609@gmail.com looking for guitarist will wash dishes all summer for free and work in soup kitchen looking for a miracle

  • Dreamlifefitness

    Because he’s too smart, compassionate, and honest to be in politics.

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