It’s going to happen, and any quick-service restaurant (QSR) owner-operator knows it. Sometime not too far in the future, they’ll need a refresh or remodel of their properties. There’s no getting out of it. Here are some hints from two project managers from MaintenX, a provider of HVAC&R, plumbing, electrical, roofing, construction and general contracting for multisite retailers, restaurants, healthcare, multifamily and other industries. They cover key topics like assembling the correct refresh or remodel team, managing the process and keeping projects on track in the face of potential delays, with a …
construction and design
Harrison Contracting: Signature Vendor Spotlight
— Interview with Sean Gillespie — R&R: Where are you based and how long has the company been in business? Sean Gillespie: Our headquarters is located about 30 miles west of Atlanta in Villa Rica, Georgia. We also have locations/operations in Tampa, Destin and Orlando, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; Dallas/Fort Worth; and Nashville, Tennessee. Harrison Contracting Company, Inc. (HCC) has been in business since 1995. R&R: How long have you been with the company? Gillespie: Since 2018. R&R: What services do you offer retailers and restaurants? Gillespie: We predominantly provide commercial …
New York City — JPMorgan Chase & Co. plans to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint by adding 500 Chase bank branches over the next 3 years. The New York City-based institution also plans to renovate 1,700 existing bank locations across the United States. New branches will expand JPMorgan Chase’s footprint in existing markets like Boston; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Philadelphia; and Minneapolis. The company will also enter several new markets, including low- to moderate-income rural communities that previously had little access to traditional banking service. The multibillion-dollar expansion effort will also …
Chicago — McHugh Construction, one of the Midwest’s largest commercial contractors, has completed the $30 million adaptive reuse transformation of Chicago’s historic Ramova Theatre from a long-shuttered single-screen cinema to an 1,800-person concert hall in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. As part of the 36,000-square-foot project on S. Halsted Street, McHugh also built out space for Other Half Brewing, an independent craft brewery and taproom; Ramova Grill, an 18-seat diner; and Ramova Loft, a second-floor 200-person event venue. The renovated Ramova Theatre reopened on Dec. 31, 2023. Ramova Theatre originally opened in …
Bentonville, Ark. — Walmart plans to expand by more than 150 new stores over the next 5 years, both through new construction and converting existing buildings. The first two stores under this initiative — both under the company’s smaller-format Walmart Neighborhood Market banner — are scheduled to open this spring in Santa Rosa, Fla., and Atlanta. The company is currently finalizing plans for 12 new projects, one of which will be the conversion of a smaller existing location into a large-format Walmart Supercenter, which serves as both a grocery store …
Santa Monica, Calif. — Fogo de Chão has signed a lease agreement for its 11th Southern California location. The new 7,246-square-foot restaurant is scheduled to open in late 2024 at 1551 Ocean Ave. and joins existing Fogo restaurants across metropolitan L.A. area, Orange County and San Diego. The Santa Monica restaurant will offer a new dining experience in the city’s westside area which features popular attractions like the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade shopping district and a stretch of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. This Los Angeles lease agreement …
Modern Market Eatery Projects Strong 2024 Growth; Will Remodel All Locations in Colorado
Denver — Modern Market Eatery, a better-for-you fast-casual dining brand, expanded its presence in 2023, opening restaurants in new and current markets, including its first new franchised location and drive-thru restaurant. The brand continues to expand in 2024 with 42 locations slated to open over the next 6-7 years. In addition to new growth, the brand started its first extensive remodel project in brand history, which will update all of its legacy Colorado restaurants. In 2023, the brand opened three new restaurants, which included the following: • One new company-owned …
New York City — Re-Bath, the nation’s largest complete bathroom remodeling franchise, has signed a multi-unit agreement in New York that will cover Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Re-Bath is actively expanding its presence along the East Coast and is set to venture into even more new markets within the state. Spearheading this massive growth across the Empire State are longtime New York residents, Robert Citrangola and Grace Campbell. While the duo is new to Re-Bath, they bring 30 years of combined franchise experience in the remodeling and …
Harrisburg, Pa. — St. John Properties Inc. has unveiled plans for the redevelopment of Harrisburg Mall, a 1 million-square-foot regional mall located in the Swatara Township section of Dauphin County. The company plans to build Swatara Exchange, a mixed-use development consisting of multi-use commercial space and supporting inline retail and retail pad sites. The mall will undergo an extended demolition program that is expected to conclude in 2025. The existing Bass Pro Shops and Applebee’s Grill + Bar restaurant will remain operational, and the former Toys”R”Us building will be marketed …
Atlanta — Melting Pot, the nation’s premier fondue dining experience, has announced that four of its Atlanta-area restaurants are now under the sole ownership of Layla Haddad Gunn, who plans to renovate all four restaurants as part of the Melting Pot Evolution, a companywide initiative upgrading dining rooms, bars and other areas to elevate the guest experience. All four Atlanta-area Melting Pots — located in Midtown, Duluth, Kennesaw and Roswell — are getting a fresh, modern look with new fabrics, flooring, paint, artwork and lighting, as well as new hospitality …