Shannon Mullen

@MullenAPP

Business opened in 1979

LAKEWOOD - The Route 70 Auction & Flea Market will have to look for a new home now that plans to build 166 townhouses on the site have won approval by the township Planning Board.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of the project, which will include a clubhouse and office and retail space. The townhouses will include basement apartments, which doubles the possible number of households to 332.

Flea Market Developers LLC still needs to obtain wetlands and highway access permits from the state. Route 70 is a state highway.

Miriam Weinstein, the developer’s attorney, said she was confident of obtaining those permits. She couldn’t provide a definite date for the flea market’s closure.

“Obviously, (the date's) not going to exist. This just got approved,” she said Tuesday.

Rumors of closure have swirled around the 36-year-old flea market for months, prompting its operators to post a large sign at the entrance reading, “FLEA MARKET HAS NOT BEEN SOLD!!!”

Adam Reynolds, whose late parents started the flea market in 1979, told the Asbury Park Press earlier this month that he expected the business to remain operating at the site for some time, citing previous failed development plans. The 21-acre site sits just east of Route 9 in the southern end of town.

On Wednesday, Reynolds said he’s still hopeful it will be another year or longer before the business has to leave.

“I do anticipate that we will have a couple more seasons there, but obviously we’re going to have to be looking to relocate,” he said.

Homes, retail proposed for Lakewood's Rt. 70 flea market

The flea market planned to go on hiatus in January in February, because of the difficulties the operators had clearing snow from the property last winter.

“We still plan on reopening March 4,” Reynolds said.

Karen Closkey, who shops at the flea market regularly, was the only person to speak in opposition to the development plans at the Planning Board meeting Tuesday.

“The Route 70 flea market is a staple of New Jersey,” the Lacey resident said. “It’s a great source of clothes, food (and) toys.”

Shannon Mullen: 732-643-4278; smullen4@gannettnj.com