March 16, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle will meet tonight. Will it finally set an opening date?
The Boondoggle, which calls itself the Bethlehem Co-Op Market, has set many opening dates and failed to open each time.
Its new strategy is to promise an opening, but not give a date. It is at least four years overdue.
This is the Boondoggle that has spent $3.1 million in public money (thanks to Susan Wild, Lisa Boscola and Bethlehem City Council) and frittered it all away. It has also raised money from donations, memberships in what is a social club, and taken loans from its members.
Last year, the Boondoggle had about $1.1 million in debt, and it’s seeking better terms on its loans. Also, loans from members at lower interest might be used to repay some of the debt. Lend with care; the terms are not promising.
The Boondoggle claims to be progressing toward opening. Perhaps more will be disclosed at tonight’s board meeting, which is open to the public in person and virtually.
There is one good sign: a tube of Pringle’s new-fangled potato chips has disappeared from the Boondoggle. It sat on a counter there for several weeks. Presumably it is not part of the inventory.
Remember, seven, eight years ago the Boondogglers were telling us there was an urgent need for a new grocery store in Bethlehem. I guess it wasn’t really that urgent, as nobody has noticed the Boondoggle’s absence.
As the Boondoggle’s unpaid, unappointed and perhaps unwanted publicist, I’ve done more to bring attention to the Boondoggle recently than anybody else. If I’m free, I will attend.
After all my efforts to keep the Boondoggle in the public eye, perhaps I’ll get an award and a gift certificate when the Boondoggle opens.
Here is a link to details about the meeting. It will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Northampton Community College Fowler Center, 511 E. Third St., and online.
It won’t be at the 250 E. Third St. Boondoggle headquarters, in the heart of an affluent Bethlehem neighborhood, because the Boondoggle isn’t open.
Until then, Boondoggle On!
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 