The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle Still Hasn’t Set an Opening Date

Oct. 8, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle held its annual meeting Monday, and I wasn’t able to listen, but here’s how their most recent social media post ends:

” … with an eye to opening our doors in 2025.”

Today is Oct. 8. There are 85 days left in 2025, and meanwhile, the 250 E. Broad St. boondoggle is still working on raising another $1 million.

Let me note for about the 100th time, the Boondoggle has taken in more than $3 million in public dollars, owes more than $1 million as of September, and has never opened.

Opening dates were announced for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, yet the Boondoggle is not open.

I have asked the Boondoggle’s public supporters — the federal government, City of Bethlehem and State of Pennsylvania (courtesy of state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem) — to check on how taxpayers’ money was spent. I haven’t heard much so far.

Somebody needs to step in with an operations audit. The Boondoggle exists only because of taxpayers’ dollars — wasted dollars — and it did not let the public into the annual meeting, although the public has supplied the bulk of the funds.

Here’s the rest of the Co-Op’s Facebook post, with the obligatory glib reference to “energy.”

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Many thanks to those who joined us for last night’s Annual Member-Owner meeting!

There were some slight tech hitches, for which we apologize – tomorrow night we will email all primary members a link to the recording.

All in all the energy is good as we move forward into Phase 2 of our Sustainable Future fundraising campaign, with an eye to opening our doors in 2025.

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The “Sustainable Future” campaign noted above is another term for asking for more money. The Co-Op wants to raise another $1.6 million because … well, it can’t hurt to ask, right?

At the September meeting, which was open to the public, the Co-Op board said about $600,000 had been pledged and that it needed to raise another $1 million.

For what? How much more money will be frittered away on this boondoggle?