Aug. 3, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Last October, Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds said it was time for the Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle to set an opening date.
Bryan Callahan said then that the Boondoggle needs to tell the public what’s going on. Some other members of City Council responded to my messages. The usual suspects ignored me, but they’re busy saving the world.
The mayor commented on the city’s frustration with the Boondoggle 10 months ago, and still no opening date has been set. Meanwhile, as anybody reading this blog knows, the Boondoggle has spent more than $3 million of public money on a 15-year-old food fantasy that hasn’t come true.
I never understood why a privately operated grocery store deserved money from the public. If/when the 250 E. Broad St. Boondoggle opens, it will compete with delis, coffee shops, grocery stores and restaurants that didn’t get millions from taxpayers.
Yet with the arrogance born of entitlement, the Boondoggle won’t reveal its finances. It just constantly asks for more money and was short $800,000 the last time I was able to listen to a meeting.
I tried to attend their last meeting virtually under my own name, but was blocked. I tried another name — Jack Straw, a reference to the Grateful Dead and a retired British politician — but that didn’t work either.
Maybe they had technical difficulties. They didn’t respond to an email either.
Bethlehem City Council and the mayor’s office have been cheerleaders for this ridiculous outfit. It’s time that they ask the Boondoggle — which refers to itself as the Bethlehem Co-Op Market — to come to a meeting and provide some answers.
Don’t count on it happening. I don’t think the City will step in and even if it did, the Boondoggle could refuse to attend. That’s the problem with giving money to private Boondoggles. They don’t have to be grateful, or even responsive.
We the taxpayers (courtesy of City Hall, state Sen. Lisa Boscola and former U.S. Rep. Susan Wild) handed over millions of dollars to a band of earnest do-gooders when that money could have gone somewhere else, or better yet, not been spent.
It’s time. It’s well past time. City Council and Mayor Reynolds, demand some answers from the Boondoggle. You helped fund it, you cheered it on, now it’s time for you to do your job and demand accountability.
I won’t ask again, if they don’t care, they don’t care.
I can say one positive thing about the Boondoggle. As far as I can see, it has not received more public money. That’s a small victory. The $3.1 million or so is already gone, and the Boondoggle is in debt, but at least the taxpayers appear to be off the hook for now.
Boondoggle On!
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 
Wow! I Googled them today because I was curious what ever happened to them and stumbled across your blog. Back in 2024, after moving to the area, I reached out to volunteer my time as a grant writer/comms professional. I never heard back. Months later after following up, I was told to sign up for their existing volunteer opportunities, which were just tabling events. I was surprised a “struggling” organization wasn’t interested in free professional support, backed by references and over a decade of grant writing experience… Ironic they still aren’t open.
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They are good at going to local events and pretending to be relevant. They are good at maintaining a presence on social media.
As for being a co-op, they’re not very good at that. Not at all.
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I asked the Pa Auditor to look in this issue. They sent me a polite response saying that they would refer it to the correct department. That was several months ago. Seems like even the Auditor isn’t interested in this misuse of public money
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I’ve asked multiple agencies to look into local boondoggles. I’ve provided links to tax returns and other documents in this blog.
So far nobody is interested. So the Co-Op Boondoggle isn’t accountable, Lehigh Valley Public Media can burn $40 million for no apparent reason, and the Da Vinci Disaster is the one to watch.
It has the contacts to get millions more from the state despite its monumental failure.
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Would it make sense to get a petition going and include that when contacting these agencies? I would gladly sign one and I’m sure plenty of other tax payers would.
Thank you, Jeff, for continuing to report on this disgusting abuse of public funds.
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I’m not sure if anybody in the cycle of elected officials / public boondoggles cares.
They support each other and all live off the rest of us.
Parasites.
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Jeff-Once again you are spot
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