The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle: No Opening Date, We Need Money, and Yes, We Need More Money; the Boondoggle Has Less Than $20,000 for Expenses

Nov. 18, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle has less than $20,000 to pay operating expenses and still hasn’t set an opening date. It’s running out of money.

The Boondoggle’s board of directors met Monday. The theme: “We need money.”

A quick review of the Boondoggle: it started in 2011, took in more than $3 million in public funds, has set many opening dates and its refrigeration system isn’t finished.

Note, this is Year 15 of non-existence. The Boondoggle refers to itself as the Bethlehem Co-Op Market, its second name during its years of not existing. Two names and the doors haven’t even opened, that’s impressive.

After $2.9 million from the federal government, $100,000 from the State of Pennsylvania, and $105,000 of federal money passed to the Boondoggle by the City of Bethlehem, plus private donations and loans, the Boondoggle needs more money.

“We currently have less than $20,000 in our checking account to pay for expenses,” board Chairman Todd Mertz said at Monday’s meeting. Most of those expenses are for operations, such as rent, utilities, but the Boondoggle isn’t operating, so that money is being burned.

“That is one of the reasons we are so aggressively pursuing our capital campaign and looking for money,” he said. 

“It’s not a great situation,” Mertz said. I appreciate the candor.

There is a “minimal staff” and there are expenses at the store at 250 E. Broad St., which, again, isn’t open. Yet it’s seeking its second general manager. There was one earlier for about a year.

How much is being paid for rent and utilities and salaries? Inquiring minds want to know. I’ve heard a fairly substantial amount, but it’s not confirmed by public documents.

The Boondoggle is short of its fund-raising goal of $1.6 million. It has about $418,000, which is not for current operating expenses. The numbers change, with some big donations being pulled back, but they’re not good.

The Boondoggle says it has 1,740 “member-owners” and if each paid the full $300 entry fee, that would be $522,000, but that money is not for operating expenses either. Also, not all of that money has to be paid up front, so the total I give above is just a projection.

Plus it’s always easier to spend OPM — other people’s money — particularly when it’s from the taxpayers.

In 2021, the Co-Op announced that it would receive $2.9 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Why? That’s a mystery. This isn’t a mystery: less than $10,000 of that is left, according to Monday’s meeting. That was a reimbursement grant, so the Co-Op ran up debt on who knows what so it could get access to that money.

Based on earlier Boondoggle statements, more than $4 million has been spent on the non-operating co-operative.

Seriously.

I ask again, “What in tarnation is going on?”

Meanwhile, the Boondoggle has “identified” a contractor to complete its refrigeration system. The cost of that was estimated earlier at $300,000, and it may take a month to complete.

I suggest that contractor ask for payment up front.

Somehow the need to finish the refrigeration work was overlooked for years.

Meanwhile, there’s some good news. Shopping baskets are in!

They’re taking care of little things and spending money on trivia while they need more than $1 million to open the doors and have some stability if they do open.

The Boondoggle was founded on the ridiculous premise that people needed a place to buy fresh food in Bethlehem, apparently overlooking Weis, Giant, Aldi, Azar’s, Wegman’s, ShopRite, farmer’s markets, small grocers, online services and other options.

Someday, maybe, Trader Joe’s?

I’ll say this again: the federal government, the State of Pennsylvania and the City of Bethlehem have to step in and demand transparency. I’ll keep banging that drum.

Where did $3 million-plus of public money go?

Who is accountable?

I’ll say this again too: You can’t make this stuff up.