Aldrich Plaza at 4075 Route 9 in Howell — Courtesy: Levin Management Corp.
By Joshua Burd
Planet Fitness has taken nearly 27,000 square feet for a new location along Route 9 in Howell, according to a leasing team with Levin Management Corp.
The chain, which has more than 2,700 locations, is coming to the nearly 132,000-square-foot Aldrich Plaza shopping center as part of a relocation and major expansion within the local market, according to a news release. Its new home at 4075 Route 9 will sit alongside a large mix of national, regional and local tenants including Walgreens, Dollar Tree, Salon Centric and Norman’s Hallmark, as well as restaurants, personal services and neighborhood retailers that drive consistent daily traffic at the property.
Levin Senior Leasing Representative E.J. Moawad represented ownership in the 26,611-square-foot deal, while Joseph Dougherty of Metro Commercial represented Planet Fitness.
“Health and wellness concepts continue to perform exceptionally well across our portfolio,” Moawad said. “Planet Fitness is a premier national brand that drives consistent daily traffic and aligns perfectly with Aldrich Plaza’s position as a high-visibility, daily-needs destination along Route 9. This expansion underscores both strong local demand and Howell’s growing appeal as a fitness and lifestyle hub.”
The leasing activity comes amid continued strength in the fitness sector, LMC said. According to Placer.ai, visits to fitness centers nationwide were 15.5 percent higher in the first quarter of 2025 than pre-pandemic levels, while the share of frequent visitors who go four or more times per month is also on the rise.
The Howell deal also marks the third Planet Fitness lease completed in 2025 within LMC’s portfolio, joining locations at Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung and Middlesex Corner in Middlesex. It noted that the chain, founded in 1992 in Dover, New Hampshire, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing fitness center franchisors and operators with its high-quality experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment known as the Judgement Free Zone.
Aldrich Plaza serves a residential population of more than 150,000 within a five-mile radius, the news release said. Nearly 40,000 vehicles pass the property daily, while it draws some 1.5 million visits per year.
