Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle Meets Again, Still Sets No Opening Date

March 16, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle met again Monday, but the Boondogglers still haven’t said when the Boondoggle will open.

No opening date has been set for an organization founded in 2011 that has made multiple promises to open, starting in 2022.

Are the Boondogglers sincere and well-intentioned and polite? They sure are. They are as earnest as can be. What they aren’t good at is opening a small grocery store.

The Boondoggle still has no general manager, it’s still working on “restructuring” debt that was listed at about $1.1 million last year and it’s still asking for money. The Boondoggle is looking to support its revenue projections. I hope the numbers are made public.

Work is underway on the refrigeration system and other parts of the 250 E. Broad St. boondoggle. The Boondoggle expects $75,000 from Moravian University as of July 1. I wonder who approved that?

That $75,000 would cover a year of tuition, along with room and board, for a full-pay Moravian student. Instead it will flow to the Boondoggle.

The board of directors meeting of the Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle — official name is Bethlehem Co-Op Market but I prefer Boondoggle — was peppy for a Boondoggle that’s four years or so past its first of many opening dates, failing in its promise to bring fresh food to the affluent residents of downtown Bethlehem and the 42 yuppie-style apartments above the Boondoggle.

What makes the Boondoggle,founded in 2011, a boondoggle is the $3.1 million in federal and state money it pulled in and spent. Public money going to a questionable private purpose, and being frittered away while nobody was watching.

Consider that the Boondoggle claims to have 1,747 members so the $3.1 million or so it hornswoggled from the taxpayers (thanks again to Susan Wild, Lisa Boscola and Bethlehem City Council) equals a benefit of about $1,775 per member. Deduct the $300 membership fee and that comes out to $1,475 per member, courtesy of all of us.

Then consider members will get discounts if/when the Boondoggle opens, while taxpaying saps will pay full price.

The arrogance and gall is admirable. I mean that. I am in awe. I couldn’t have pulled off such a stunt with a straight face or a clear conscience, and then been able to preach to others on social media. It’s truly remarkable.

These Boondogglers should run for office.

Monday’s Boondoggle meeting was held at Northampton Community College in south Bethlehem and streamed by the Boondoggle on the Internet.

Let me add something else good about the Boondoggle, the meetings are usually short and well-run and the board answers questions. Even from me.

They won’t make their finances public, which is unfortunate as much of their money came from the taxpayers, but they don’t have to because they are — despite the millions of dollars of public grants — a private organization.

It’s brilliant, in its own way. Millions of dollars, no accountability for success.

Boondoggle On!

— Editor’s note: Based on the Boondoggle’s history, I wrote most of this story in advance. The Boondoggle is predictable.