TOMS RIVER, N.J.
— A decision by Ocean County officials to host a pop-up café operated by Jon Bon Jovi’s JBJ Soul Kitchen inside the Ocean County Library has ignited controversy and raised serious concerns over public safety, crime, and the library’s changing role in downtown Toms River.
Initially launched in February, the café was intended to address hunger and offer community resources. But according to Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick, its presence has turned the library into what he described as “a de facto homeless shelter and soup kitchen,” drawing individuals from outside the township, including those struggling with addiction and mental health issues.
Mayor Rodrick has sharply criticized the Ocean County Board of Commissioners for renewing the Soul Kitchen lease through May, warning that the site now poses a risk to the local community. “Mothers shouldn’t have to walk through large gangs of intoxicated and mentally ill men with their children to borrow a book,” Rodrick said.
“Had the same thing in my town. Started a food service in the library with chairs and tables. Within 6 months, it has to get rid of it, fights, sleeping drugs in the bathroom, and police calls. Eventually, the township got rid of it,” one commenter on Facebook reported.
The library, situated in the heart of downtown and adjacent to the county courthouse, was once a resource for students from Toms River High School South, courthouse staff, and local families. Now, officials report a troubling uptick in criminal and unsanitary conditions, including drug use, public defecation, and unsafe behavior near the premises.
“It’s horrible. People all over talking and cursing out loud to themselves. It’s scary,” Christine, from Toms River said.
Just in recent weeks, two drug-dealing arrests occurred outside the library, and a drug overdose, reportedly fatal, took place on its steps. Photographs posted by Just Believe Inc., a nonprofit partner of the JBJ Soul Kitchen, show homeless individuals camped outside, personal belongings brought inside, and a soiled toilet seat discarded near the back door.
“Went there the other day with my grandsons and it was beyond disgusting…will never go back there,” said Maureen, a grandmother in Toms River.
Public backlash and visible decline
Encampments have been reported around the building, including the municipal parking garage and library entrance, intensifying public unease. The library has increasingly become a gathering point for individuals exhibiting erratic behavior, raising concerns among local parents and high schoolers who frequent the area during lunch hours.
In response, Mayor Rodrick has urged families to consider using the Brick branch of the library instead, stating that until the county ends the Soul Kitchen’s use of the facility, the Toms River location cannot function as originally intended.
Gloria, another Toms River resident blamed Just Believe Inc, a company whose annual income has doubled each year since its inception, which gets subsidized for each homeless person it brings into Ocean County.
“We have”” just believed”” to thank for that. As long as us taxpayers are forced to pay their ridiculous payroll this will continue to happen.. stop giving them GRANTS.. take back our town,” she said. “As you can see by their taxes [non profit tax returns] they really don’t do anything but pay themselves. I’m glad you’re warm heart is falling for their nonsense”
This situation in Toms River is not unique. A June 1 stabbing at a homeless shelter in Salem, Oregon — where 11 people, including staff, were attacked — has further fueled concerns about mixing vulnerable populations with inadequate security in public settings. Authorities there described the suspect as erratic and dangerous, highlighting the risks of poorly monitored service hubs.
County Commissioner Robert Arace has defended the JBJ Soul Kitchen, arguing that it is not a soup kitchen, since it requires payment or volunteering in exchange for meals. However, visits to the site revealed that the majority of meals served — roughly 45% of the 2,600 distributed since February — were funded through donations.
Debate over venue and responsibility
Critics say that while the Foundation’s mission is laudable, the library is a poor fit for such operations. The facility lacks the infrastructure to support high volumes of individuals with acute needs, and the presence of increased sheriff patrols and floodlights, while necessary, has done little to change public perception or guarantee safety.
The broader issue, according to Rodrick and others, is that the county has shifted the burden of homelessness and public health services onto an institution designed for education. “This town should not be used as a dumping ground for the state’s homeless population so a few local non-profits can get subsidized per head,” Rodrick stated.
Ocean County officials have acknowledged the spike in incidents. The Sheriff’s Department has posted deputies near the building and added lighting to surrounding county properties. Young mothers have reportedly been advised not to walk alone with children to the nearby parking deck due to visible drug activity.
Community demands long-term solution
The tension between compassion for the homeless and the safety of the broader community has grown more urgent. Advocacy organizations continue to support the Soul Kitchen’s goals, but residents and local leaders argue for a more appropriate facility — one that offers full services, oversight, and security.
As the debate intensifies, questions remain about the long-term viability of blending public libraries with crisis service centers. Toms River’s residents and leadership await a county plan that balances assistance for those in need with a return to safety and function for one of its central public institutions.
A pop-up café meant to fight hunger has sparked outrage in Toms River as rising crime and public disorder push families out of their own library.
