construction and design

— By Anthony Sanchez — Riding the rising wave of retail demand through strategic repositioning. Good news for retail and restaurant stakeholders: demand for in-person shopping, services, dining, entertainment and activities is on the rise. Research shows that annual U.S. retail growth more than tripled year-over-year between 2010 and 2021, nearly 90% of retail sales are still occurring in person and more than half of U.S. consumers dined out more often in 2022 over the previous year. What’s more, among open-air lifestyle centers, March 2023 visits increased 15.3% month over …

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Atlanta and New York City — Chick-fil-A has announced plans for two new restaurant concepts. Beginning in 2024, the brand will open an elevated drive-thru concept in metro Atlanta as well as a walk-up restaurant in New York City. Both concepts are designed to enhance efficiency and convenience, with plans for the drive-thru restaurant including a kitchen built above the drive-thru lanes and dedicated lanes for mobile orders. Targeted toward urban areas with heavy foot traffic, the walk-up concept will allow guests to order through the Chick-fil-A app and pick …

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Salisbury, N.C. — As part of its recent $77 million capital investment, Food Lion has remodeled stores in Greenville, Jacksonville and New Bern, N.C. On Aug. 2, Food Lion will hold ribbon-cutting events at 47 stores in the Greenville, Jacksonville and New Bern area. The investment includes e-commerce options across all stores through pickup or home delivery and energy-efficient overhead LED lighting and refrigerated cases with doors. The modern solutions impart ambiance, enhance fresh product assortment and reduce energy costs, helping reduce Food Lion’s environmental footprint. Most stores are introducing …

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— By Tony Hunsoo Ahn — A bakery concept that features delicious design and a tasty layout. Store design and layout are pivotal to making a favorable first impression — and to maintaining the feeling for returning guests. Walk into any TOUS les JOURS (TLJ) location across the U.S., and you’ll find an inviting ‘cafeteria-style’ grab-and-go environment with a large display of individually wrapped pastries, encouraging customers to add their items — all-time favorites and new desires — to a tray as they approach the register. TLJ is committed to …

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Fort Worth, Texas — Westwood Contractors, Inc. is adding Ron Winchek as project manager. Winchek has more than 7 years of experience in the construction industry including estimating, onsite construction management and project management. Most recently, Winchek served as the director of project management & preconstruction services for Kuhns Group, a restaurant-focused general contractor which provides turn-key services for remodeling or new construction projects. In his role with Kuhns Group, Winchek led a team of five project managers and estimators, increased sales from $11 million to $16 million with implementation …

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Photos courtesy of Albert Law San Leandro, Calif. — Ghirardelli Chocolate Company will reopen its flagship store, the Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop, at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, on July 13, 2023. After a 6-month renovation of the historic building, the store celebrates Ghirardelli’s history and craftmanship as a U.S. chocolate pioneer and the company’s legacy in San Francisco dating back to the 1850s. The new design features North America’s largest flowing chocolate wall, the original, 19-foot “G” from the historic marque Ghirardelli sign, a replica San …

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Brentwood, Tenn. — CenterSquare Investment Management has recently completed renovations at Brentwood Corners (formerly Lakeside Center), a 22,268-square-foot Essential Service Retail (ESR) property located in Brentwood, Tenn., a Nashville suburb. The property has undergone several enhancements, including a newly milled and repaved parking lot, freshly painted facades and awnings, a complete roof replacement, revitalized landscaping, and the installation of LED lighting in both the shopping center and the surrounding parking area. In addition to the range of physical improvements implemented, the property has also undergone a change in ownership and …

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— Interview with Tom Real — How restaurants and retail stores can capitalize on the post-pandemic revival. Although brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants were among the real estate sectors that suffered the most during the pandemic, these sectors also came roaring back as the crisis subsided. Owners of retail and restaurant properties are now looking for enticing amenities and engaging experiences that will pique investor and customer interest. We spoke with Tom Real, vice president of engineering and preconstruction at OTL, a leader in water features, rockwork and themed environments, about …

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Sandy Springs, Ga. — INKED Tacos and The Original Hot Chicken have opened a dual concept location in Sandy Springs, Ga., near Atlanta. Both INKED Tacos and The Original Hot Chicken are portfolio concepts of Atlanta-based Experiential Brands. The grand opening took place on June 29th. “We are excited to expand our presence in Atlanta and play an important role in the daily lives of people who live, work and visit here,” says a restaurant representative. “We strive to create memorable food experiences that will keep guests coming back for …

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New York City — Atomic Wings, a 15-unit brand specializing in flavorful chicken wings, is starting off 2023 with a bang. In first quarter, the New York-based franchise experienced strong sales numbers, opened a new store in Utica, N.Y., and sold two new Area Representative agreements, in both Dallas and Northern California. The company has an additional 10 locations under construction, with plans to open throughout the year, bringing Atomic Wings to new states, including Arkansas, Nevada, Indiana and Texas. Atomic Wings also is launching its first two drive-thru locations …

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