A restaurant built around the idea that nobody should have to choose between eating and meeting other financial obligations has marked five years of serving the Rutgers University–Newark community.
According to Rutgers University–Newark, the JBJ Soul Foundation and JBJ Soul Kitchen, the restaurant, founded by musician Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, has served more than 14,000 meals to students, university staff and local residents since opening on campus in 2020. Located inside the Paul Robeson Campus Center, the restaurant was established to address food insecurity through a community dining model that allows people to eat regardless of their ability to pay.
The milestone was celebrated on November 10, 2025, when Rutgers–Newark and the JBJ Soul Foundation hosted a special lunch at the restaurant. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that hunger can affect college students as well as families facing financial hardship. By making nutritious meals accessible without a fixed menu price, the restaurant aims to ensure that financial difficulties do not become an additional barrier to education.
A restaurant where meals are not tied to income
Unlike conventional restaurants, JBJ Soul Kitchen operates on a pay-it-forward model. Guests can make a suggested donation towards their meal, helping support the restaurant and its mission. Those unable to contribute can still eat and are encouraged to participate in community activities, including volunteering.Each meal includes three courses prepared by chefs, with an emphasis on providing nutritious food in a welcoming setting.
The model allows paying guests to help cover the cost of meals for people experiencing food insecurity, bringing together diners with different financial circumstances around the same table.According to Rutgers–Newark’s anniversary announcement, more than half of the guests served by the campus restaurant are now people in need. The figure points to the continuing demand for affordable food assistance among the university community and nearby residents.For students managing tuition, housing, transport and other living expenses, access to a dependable meal can make a meaningful difference. The restaurant’s approach also seeks to reduce the stigma sometimes associated with seeking food assistance by creating a shared dining space rather than separating those receiving support from other guests.
A partnership built around student well-being
The restaurant is the result of a partnership between the JBJ Soul Foundation, Rutgers–Newark and Gourmet Dining, the food service provider involved in its operations.
University leaders have presented the initiative as an example of how institutions can work with community organisations to address needs that extend beyond the classroom.The restaurant’s work is also supported by local organisations and campus groups, including the Newark Teachers Association, the Rutgers Police Department, Students Organized Rutgers Against Hunger, and RU-N Pantry+. Their involvement helps raise awareness about food insecurity and connect students with food assistance and other resources.The collaboration is important because food insecurity is not always immediately visible on a university campus. Students may attend classes and maintain their academic responsibilities while struggling to afford regular, nutritious meals. Initiatives such as JBJ Soul Kitchen offer an additional source of support while helping build connections between students, staff and the surrounding community.
Extending a mission beyond the campus
The Rutgers–Newark restaurant is part of a broader effort by the JBJ Soul Foundation to tackle hunger, homelessness and poverty.
Established in 2006, the foundation supports community-based initiatives intended to improve access to essential resources and create more stable living conditions.JBJ Soul Kitchen expanded that work by developing community restaurants where people can share meals without the pressure of a fixed price. Its network includes locations in New Jersey, with the university restaurant extending the model into higher education.Five years after opening, the Rutgers–Newark branch has demonstrated how a campus dining space can serve a wider purpose. Its more than 14,000 meals represent not only food provided but also an ongoing effort to make support accessible without compromising the dignity of those who need it. As the restaurant continues its work, its central principle remains straightforward: access to a nourishing meal should not depend on how much money someone has in their pocket.In 2020, Jon Bon Jovi and his wife helped open a restaurant at Rutgers–Newark; five years later, it had served more than 14,000 meals to students, faculty and neighbours, regardless of ability to pay