Sept. 21, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle may set another opening date.
The doors may open in December. That comes from multiple people “familiar with the Boondoggle.”
December is not exactly prime time for local produce. Perhaps they’ll have some butternut squash from the Lehigh Valley.
This post may not be news, I understand. In 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 they said they were going to open the 250 E. Broad St. Boondoggle, but they didn’t. The Boondoggle is in its 15th year and hasn’t sold one sprig of cilantro.
Still the Boondoggle has kept at it, holding meetings, asking for money, promoting things on social media, asking for money, and asking for more money.
I did not give them money. I spent my money on groceries, not the Co-Op. I need food. I don’t need a Boondoggle to provide it.
So after taking in $3.1 million from taxpayers, running up debt and falling behind in rent, and 15 years after its founding, the Boondoggle may open its doors in early December. By the way, the Boondoggle prefers to be referred to as the Bethlehem Co-Op Market.
Perhaps the Great and Powerful Boondoggle Board will reveal the date at its meeting tonight (ignore that pesky blogger behind the curtain). However, the public is barred from Boondoggle meetings, millions of dollars involuntarily contributed or not.
If the Boondoggle opens, perhaps the taxpaying public will get a little return on its millions, but the Boondoggle has not met its financial targets for opening. It was about $800,000 short a couple months ago.
If it opens, I’ll check it out. Can it make a go of it? Based on its first 15 years of Boondogglery, I’m skeptical. No matter what happens, the $3.1 million should never have gone to a for-profit private group that knew nothing about opening and operating co-ops. It does excel at Boondoggling.
Still, better to open and risk failing than never opening and Boondoggling indefinitely.
So we will see if it opens in December. Until then, Boondoggle On!
Editor’s note: I usually don’t rely on anonymous sources of information, but this is backed up somewhat by the Happy Boondogglers themselves.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 