The Hazlet-Middletown Route 35 corridor's retail vacancy rate made it one of Central Jersey's stronger markets at the end of 2012, according to a report issued by The Goldstein Group.

The report surveyed 22 markets and over 4,250 retail properties in Northern and Central New Jersey in December 2012. The six percent vacancy in the Hazlet-Middletown Route 35 retail real estate market made it the eighth strongest. Of the 4,711,971 square feet of retail space in 198 properties in the Hazlet-Middletown Route 35 corridor, 285,548 square feet were vacant, according to the report. 

The overall vacancy rate of the areas studied in the report was 7.8 percent, a press release issued by The Goldstein Group stated.

Other areas of Monmouth County showed mixed results in the rental market: the Shrewsbury-Ocean Route 35 corridor had a 10.5 percent vacancy rate while the Sayreville-Howell Route 9 corridor was 7.5 percent vacanct. 

While leasing activity continues to be driven by retailers opening stores in the 1,000- to 5,000-square-foot range, large box retailers are taking advantage of market conditions favorable to renters, the press release stated. Box stores in the planning stages include a ShopRite on Route 35 in Hazlet and a Whole Foods on Route 9 in Marlboro.

Boxing gyms entered Central Jersey growing gym market in force in 2012, according to the report. CKO Boxing, for example, opened in Eatontown, Edison, Lyndhurst and Middletown.