Jon Bon Jovi Opens Soul Kitchen Restaurant in Nashville

The Restaurant's Mission: Helping Those In Food Insecurity

Location: Located on Demonbreun Street in downtown Nashville

For the man who already has everything, Jon Bon Jovi wanted to give back to the community he said he already considers home. In a celebration that included good food and lively music on October 20th, Bon Jovi cut the ribbon, along with local dignitaries, for his latest Soul Kitchen restaurant in Nashville.

Soul Kitchen is a non-profit community restaurant that serves a three-course meal with dignity and no questions asked. The term "pay what you can" is the guiding principle, which means some may pay the suggested $20 donation, while others may volunteer time or simply pay what they can afford.

Launched in 2009 in Red Bank, New Jersey, Soul Kitchen has served more than 150,000 meals. Due to soaring food prices, the number of people experiencing food insecurity has more than doubled during the pandemic. It is estimated that 1 in 8 Americans, or 42 million people, face food insecurity.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper thanked Jon Bon Jovi for opening the restaurant and said that the city consistently struggles to feed hungry people. "There are so many people who live on the margins and are forgotten," Cooper said. "They're the ones who work hard and still can't make ends meet. And so this is a place for them."

The Nashville location is Soul Kitchen's second location and the first outside of New Jersey. Bon Jovi said he was inspired to open a restaurant in Nashville because of the city's strong sense of community and its commitment to helping those in need.

"We're here to serve the people of Nashville," said Bon Jovi. "We want to make sure that everyone has access to a good meal, regardless of their ability to pay."

The restaurant is located at 505 Demonbreun Street in downtown Nashville. It is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, visit the Soul Kitchen website at soulkitchen.org.