Oct. 24, 2025
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
In two earlier stories and during the Monday meeting of the Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle, I said they would need a Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Inspection before opening at 250 E. Broad St.
The Co-Op says it will serve fresh and prepared food, and that requires jumping through extra hoops. Serving perishable food is a serious process.
Somebody who knows the process a lot better than I do pointed out that Bethlehem has its own Health Bureau, and a city inspection should be sufficient. See this link for more information.
My apologies to the Boondoggle. Here is a link to a recent search of Bethlehem inspections. There are many county and local health bureaus throughout the state.
As of now, there is no opening date set, three years after the first date was set. The Co-Op has to complete refrigeration work and then get a CO, or Certificate of Occupancy, and then actually open.
It has not existed for 14 years now, despite spending more than $3 million in public funds. Meanwhile it’s trying to raise another $1 millino.
Meanwhile, at Tuesday’s Bethlehem City Council meeting, multiple people discussed the Co-Op, including Mayor J. William Reynolds.
I’m glad that the issue is being raised publicly. It’s overdue.
I will have more on those public comments later.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 
The building ownerhas been a primary beneficiary of the taxpayer grant collecting rent for the past few years.
There is zero chance of this boondoggle generating positive cash flow in the competitive world of retail grocery.
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