— By Matt Calo, P.E. and Huston Dawson, P.E. — Safety should be top priority as businesses turn to outdoor space due to ongoing indoor restrictions. As spring arrives and states across the country continue to revise their restrictions on indoor gatherings, most urban centers have raised the occupancy allowance to 50% capacity for indoor dining and retail operations. The improving weather means that many establishments will expand the use of available outdoor space to enhance income potential and save their businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced commercial establishments …
construction and design
Houston — Acclaimed Houston-based Underbelly Hospitality is growing its hometown footprint moments from where the city was first born and just steps from Buffalo Bayou Park. The restaurant group, led by James Beard Award-Winning Chef/Owner Chris Shepherd, has signed a lease for a 5,000-square-foot standalone space with rooftop terrace at Regent Square, an urban infill development reimagining the Allen Parkway corridor. Focusing on live fire cooking, the global concept will serve as an anchor for GID Development Group’s much-anticipated Regent Square Phase 2 addition. Scheduled to debut in late 2021, …
Miami — FRONTIER Building, an experience-focused national general construction, construction management and design-build contractor, has completed the construction of the new Burlington in Doral, Fla., near Miami International Mall. The project is part of a redevelopment of a Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores that will also include a future Total Wine & More. FRONTIER demolished and redesigned the existing façade entry for the new Burlington, as well as managed the interior buildout of the more than 42,000-square-foot department store. FRONTIER also added 258 new parking spaces. “We’re …
Scottsdale, Ariz. — Born and Raised Hospitality, the restaurant group behind popular Phoenix restaurants Clever Koi, Across The Pond and Fellow Osteria, and architecture firm Aline Architecture Concepts have teamed up to design a new fast-casual ramen restaurant, Clever Ramen, opening this spring in Scottsdale, Ariz. Clever Ramen was created with the idea of using raw materials that encapsulate warmth and life to the space. The fast-casual restaurant will feature a menu of customized ramen noodle bowls, steamed bao buns and seasoned fries. The restaurant features a curved plywood ceiling …
Brookfield Properties Opens Retail, Dining Portion of Fifth + Broadway in Downtown Nashville
Nashville, Tenn. — Brookfield Properties has opened the retail and dining component at Fifth + Broadway, a 6-acre mixed-use project in downtown Nashville, Tenn. Brookfield and local developer Pat Emery partnered on the development, which formerly was the location of the Nashville Convention Center. General contractor Skanska broke ground on the project in April 2017, when San Diego-based OliverMcMillan was the lead developer before its acquisition by Brookfield in February 2018. Designed by Gresham Smith and Gensler, the newly opened portion of Fifth + Broadway features 200,000 square feet of …
Phoenix — Sprouts Farmers Market plans a series of new stores, including four with a new, smaller format in line with previously announced strategy, and one store relocation. The healthy grocer will open approximately 20 stores this year. Sprouts is known for offering a unique farmer’s market experience through an open layout fostering customer engagement, and a curated selection of innovative and responsibly sourced healthy products. “This year, Sprouts will densify its footprint with more stores opening in California, Florida and Texas,” says Dave McGlinchey, Sprouts’ chief format officer. “We’re …
Oklahoma City, Okla. — Coolgreens has teamed up with Interplan, a full-service architecture and engineering firm, to design a flexible prototype that can expand or contract in size based on market conditions. Coolgreens’ new base prototype utilizes a consistent kitchen design but allows franchisees to flex the space in the front of house as needed. Compared to its current 2,000-square-foot model, the adaptable prototype allows franchisees to choose a space ranging from 1,000 to 2,200 square feet, as well as elements such as a drive-thru and/or dine-in seating. “We are …
Minnetonka, Minn. — Famous Dave’s, a fast-growing barbeque franchise with 117 restaurants, will introduce a streamlined new restaurant prototype this year. BBQ Holdings, Famous Dave’s parent franchisor, has struck an agreement with DTSG, one of its legacy franchisee groups, to open Famous Dave’s Quick-Que’, its first line-service model restaurant in Coon Rapids, Minn. In 2020, BBQ Holdings purchased Real Urban BBQ, a cafeteria-style barbeque restaurant concept that inspired Famous Dave’s new line-service model. The new model will provide the same fan-favorite BBQ fare Famous Dave’s built its name on but …
San Francisco — Gap Inc. plans to open a new state-of-the-art Customer Experience Center in Longview, Texas. By delivering inventory faster and more efficiently to customers across the country, the $140 million investment will help Gap Inc. meet the rising customer demand for online shopping and reach its future plans for digital growth. Gap Inc. anticipates the new campus will create more than 500 full-time jobs in Longview by the end of 2023 and will grow to more than 1,000 full-time jobs in the city over the next 5 years. …
Denver — Evergreen Devco, Inc., a leading retail and multifamily development company, had broken ground on a grocery-anchored shopping center on the northeast corner of 56th Avenue and Tower Road in Denver. The development site will feature a Sprouts Farmer’s Market-anchored shopping center with one multi-tenant building and six accompanying retail pads. In addition, Evergreen will complete common area and off-site improvements. “This project will provide much needed retail, restaurant and service amenities for the neighborhood, given the site is within walking distance to the adjacent subdivisions and apartment community …