New Tenant Revealed For Former Big Lots Store In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A new gym is coming to Middletown.

A gym called Iron Revolution plans to open in the former Big Lots store at Town Brook Commons in Middletown, located at 754 Rt. 35.

This is the shopping center where the Middletown Stop & Shop and Kohl’s are located. There's also an Orangetheory and Power Core Studio in that shopping complex.

Iron Fitness started with their first location on Rt. 9 in Howell, and their Middletown location will be their second. Their Middletown gym will be much larger than their existing Howell site, although they have plans to expand their Howell gym.

An employee at the Howell Iron Fitness said they have no set date for when they will open in Middletown, only that they're "hoping to open by the end of the year."

They're aiming to open in Middletown in the fourth quarter of 2026, according to Iron Revolution's Instagram account.

Iron Revolution will open a 28,045-square-foot gym inside the former Big Lots, which has sat empty for almost two years now. Big Lots went bankrupt in 2024, and all their stores closed that year.

Membership at Iron Revolution is $89.99/month if you sign up for a year-long membership, $99.99/month if you pay monthly and they also have $20 daily guest passes and $70 weekly guest passes, according to the Iron Revolution website.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to bring our second Iron Revolution location to Middletown, NJ,” Raymond Fennell, the gym’s owner, told the Real Estate NJ news site. “Iron Revolution of Middletown will be a world-class 28,045-square-foot fitness destination featuring top-of-the-line equipment, an unmatched training environment and premium recovery amenities designed to create an exceptional experience for our members. Our goal is not simply to open another gym, but to have a positive impact on people’s lives and create a facility that our members are proud to be a part of for years to come.”