From Classroom to Culinary Trails: How Bonnie Brown Built Jersey Shore Food Tours
On this episode of Grit Won’t Quit, Tom sits down with Bonnie Brown, founder of Jersey Shore Food Tours, to unpack her inspiring journey from elementary school teacher to full-time entrepreneur. What started as a vacation experience on the West Coast has grown into one of the most unique ways to experience the Jersey Shore—through its food, its people, and its small businesses.
Bonnie’s story is one of leap-of-faith decisions, long nights, community collaboration, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with building something from the ground up.
A Vacation Spark That Turned Into a Business
Bonnie’s journey began in 2013 during a cross-country road trip with her husband. While visiting Seattle, they went on their first food tour—an experience that completely changed the way they explored new cities.
“You eat, you drink, you learn about the city—it’s the best way to immerse yourself in a place in a short amount of time.”
They loved it. The food, the stories, the behind-the-scenes access—it left an impression. At the time, they were living in Asbury Park and casually dreamed about bringing something similar back to the Jersey Shore. But like many great ideas, it stayed a vacation conversation… until life gave them a push.
Starting a Business With a Baby, a Domain Name, and Google
Fast forward to 2016. Bonnie and her husband were both full-time teachers, working multiple jobs, and had just welcomed their first son, River. One evening after grocery shopping, her husband simply said:
“Let’s start that food tour.”
With no business background, no marketing experience, and no roadmap, they jumped in headfirst. They bought a domain, Googled how to start a business, and wrote a business plan night after night while caring for a newborn.
Their first stop was Confections of a Rockstar in Asbury Park. They walked in with nothing but a vision—and were met with unexpected support.
“That was all we needed. One person believing in us.”
From that moment, Taste of Asbury Food Tours was born.
From Side Hustle to Full-Time Leap
For years, Jersey Shore Food Tours ran alongside Bonnie’s teaching career. She taught elementary and middle school for nearly two decades while building the tour business on nights and weekends.
But growth created pressure.
“I wanted to grow it faster, but I didn’t have the money to hire people—so I had to do everything myself.”
That tension between comfort and growth eventually led Bonnie to step away from teaching and go all-in on the business. Two years later, Jersey Shore Food Tours expanded beyond Asbury Park into Point Pleasant, officially becoming Jersey Shore Food Tours.
Today, the company operates tours year-round, hosts public tours, corporate outings, birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and even holiday food tours for businesses.
What Makes These Tours Different
Jersey Shore Food Tours isn’t just about sampling great food—it’s about storytelling, community, and connection.
Bonnie highlights the people behind the kitchens: their struggles, their history, their passion. Guests don’t just eat—they learn.
“You don’t always get the story when you walk into a restaurant. That’s what we get to share.”
Each tour brings guests to hidden culinary gems, specialty shops, and local favorites. For many businesses, the tour becomes a powerful lead generator—turning first-time visitors into repeat customers.
Tom shared how his team discovered several places they had never visited before and returned on their own after the tour.
“That’s real marketing. You’re bringing businesses real customers.”
The Reality of Entrepreneurship: Highs, Lows, and Support Systems
While the tours look fun from the outside, Bonnie was honest about the emotional weight of entrepreneurship.
“You can have your highest high in the morning and your lowest low by the afternoon.”
Cash flow concerns, hiring struggles, marketing uncertainty, cancellations, and burnout are all part of the process. What keeps her moving forward is her support system—especially her husband.
“He talks me off the ledge more times than I can count.”
Tom echoed how vital that support is, sharing stories of late-night calls, weekend emergencies, and the pressure that comes with building multiple businesses.
Both agreed: entrepreneurship is deeply rewarding—but undeniably lonely at times.
Expansion, Pizza Tours, and What’s Next
With Point Pleasant now added to the tour map, Bonnie’s vision is growing rapidly. Bradley Beach, Belmar, Manasquan, and beyond are all on the radar.
Specialty tours are also in the works—pizza tours, behind-the-scenes mozzarella making, cocktail-making classes with distilleries, and even trolley-based food tours.
“I’m coming all over. There’s nothing stopping me.”
She’s also building systems to support long-term growth: collecting guest emails, increasing Google reviews, developing VIP programs, and expanding her team of tour guides so she can focus on scaling the business.
A Business Built on Community
One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode is how collaborative the food tour industry truly is. Instead of competition, Bonnie describes a network of operators across New Jersey who support one another, share bookings, and help each other grow.
“We’re not stepping on toes. We’re helping each other succeed.”
That spirit extends to the businesses she partners with—restaurants, bakeries, olive oil shops, and specialty food locations that all benefit from the exposure and new customers the tours bring in.
Where to Find Jersey Shore Food Tours
Bonnie made it easy:
You can find Jersey Shore Food Tours at JerseyShoreFoodTours.com
If you’re looking for a new way to experience the Jersey Shore—whether for a weekend activity, team-building event, celebration, or just an unforgettable afternoon of food and stories—this is it.
Final Thoughts
Bonnie’s journey is a perfect example of what Grit Won’t Quit is all about: taking a risk, building through uncertainty, leaning on your support system, and staying committed through the highs and lows.
From catching fish in Seattle to leading food tours up and down the Jersey Shore, she proves that sometimes the best businesses start with nothing more than a great experience and the courage to try.
And as Tom puts it—this is only the beginning.
This podcast episode was filmed at Wingman Planning in Belmar.
