10 New Businesses Coming Along Rt. 35 In Middletown/Hazlet

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Businesses come and businesses go, especially with the "retail apocalypse" that's currently affecting the U.S. economy. But in the middle of all the gloomy news (Bye, Geoffrey the Giraffe), there are some bright spots.

Here are 10 new businesses scheduled to open either before the end of 2018 or in 2019 along Rt. 35:

1. Bambi Baby: A new baby clothing and furniture store is supposed to open next to the Bed, Bath & Beyond on Hwy. 35 in Middletown: The owners of Bambi Baby said they plan to open by November or December in the Middletown Marketplace shopping center. They hope to fill the void left by the closure of the Middletown Babies R Us.

2. A Panera Bread, with possibly a drive through: This will be coming to what's known locally as the "Kmart Plaza" in Hazlet, even though Kmart hasn't been there for years. The Panera Bread will be moving into where the Planet Fitness is now. The Planet Fitness would stay, but move to the opposite end of the strip mall.

3. A Wawa: A Wawa is supposed to also open in the Kmart Plaza, and would be part of a gas station. This is all part of a redevelopment plan by the Hazlet Township Committee to revamp and revitalize the Kmart Plaza, breathing new life into it as the "Hazlet Town Center."

4. Burlington Coat Factory: A Burlington Coat Factory may possibly fill part of the empty Kmart space, but that has not been confirmed yet by the owner of the Kmart Plaza, Onyx Equities.

5. The Learning Experience daycare center

6. A Dunkin' Donuts drive through

7. Mavis Discount Tire: All three of those businesses, the Learning Experience, Dunkin' Donuts and Mavis Discount Tire, are scheduled to open up at the site of what used to be the now-demolished Steak & Ale in Middletown. The developer said they are supposed to all open in the first quarter of 2019.

8. Moe's Southwest Grill: It will replace the recently torn-down eyeglasses store that stood at the intersection of Harmony Road and Rt. 35, near the Middletown ShopRite shopping complex.

Not until 2020:

9. Wegman's: If the somewhat controversial Shoppes at Middletown project moves forward, a Wegman's supermarket and movie theater are the only two confirmed tenants so far that would open at the intersection of Rt. 35 and Kings Highway, where Calico the Evil Clown of Middletown is now.

10. CMX movie theater

(Image via Wawa)