Chicago — Englewood Construction has begun construction on two Outback Steakhouse restaurants in Illinois, and has recently completed an Olive Garden Italian Restaurant in Utah. The national general contractor has also completed a new Trader Joe’s in Iowa (pictured here), and started interior remodeling projects for three test kitchens and training facilities for US Foods in California, Arizona and Maryland.
“The variety of our recent restaurant, grocery and foodservice projects definitely speaks to our depth of expertise in these sectors, our reliability as we perform jobs for repeat clients, and our national capabilities that allow us to successfully deliver projects across the country,” says William Di Santo, president of Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction. “These jobs also reflect the strength we’re observing in the food and drink industry as the economy continues its upward trend. National restaurant chains are seizing opportunities to add locations, while grocery brands and foodservice companies are also expanding their footprints and enhancing facilities to match growth in the market.”
In Downers Grove, Ill., a southwest suburb of Chicago, Englewood’s restaurant group has begun construction on a new 6,882-square-foot Outback Steakhouse in the Mainstreet Square Shopping Center. Scheduled to open early next year, this location joins more than a dozen other Outback Steakhouses in the Chicago metropolitan area. Dallas-based GHA Architecture is the project architect.
Tampa, Fla.-based Bloomin’ Brands also tapped Englewood to construct a 6,524-square-foot Outback Steakhouse near Wabash Avenue and Veterans Parkway in Springfield, Ill. It joins other new retail developments in Sherwood Plaza, a shopping center undergoing redevelopment just south of White Oaks Mall. Lexington, Ky.-based The Roberts Group is the project architect.
“Casual dining continues to be a popular addition to drive traffic to new as well as existing retail centers,” notes Di Santo.
In late October, Englewood completed a 7,794-square-foot Olive Garden Italian Restaurant in Spanish Fork, Utah. It is one of more than 800 Olive Gardens in 49 states for Orlando, Fla.-based Darden Restaurants Inc., a national client of Englewood Construction. Tustin, Calif.-based CRHO Architects was the project architect.
On October 6, 2017, Trader Joe’s opened its second store in Iowa in Coralville, a northwest suburb of Iowa City. Englewood completed construction of the 13,002-square-foot grocery store earlier this fall. Indianapolis-based Cripe was the project architect.
“It’s always exciting when we’re involved in bringing a Trader Joe’s to a new market, because there’s such incredible anticipation in the community for the arrival of this one-of-a-kind grocery brand,” says Di Santo. “Trader Joe’s has become a long term client, and one of the reasons is that not only are we familiar with their overall store concept and the standards they carry from location to location, but we also pay close attention to the details that help create that unique shopping experience that draws loyal, repeat customers.”
Englewood has also recently started construction on three foodservice projects in Hanover, Md., La Mirada, Calif., and Phoenix.
Rosemont, Ill.-based US Foods, Inc., a leading food company and distributor to restaurants, healthcare, hospitality, government and educational facilities, hired Englewood Construction to remodel three of its test kitchen and training facilities. Scheduled to be complete early next year, the interior remodels will accommodate the latest kitchen and training equipment. Hartland, Wis.-based ESI Design Services is the project architect for all three locations. Englewood will build a classroom-style arrangement around a condensed version of the standard cook line, with a ventilation hood over open flames, a fryer, skillet and griddle, according to Di Santo.
In the Hanover location, Englewood is converting a 7,761-square-foot office area to make space for a test kitchen, conference room, storage room, open office and product evaluation areas. And in Phoenix and La Mirada, Englewood is remodeling each of US Foods locations’ existing 6,775-square-foot space for a new test kitchen, conference rooms, training rooms and food prep area.
Englewood Construction, Inc. is a commercial general contractor specializing in the construction of retail, restaurant, shopping center, hotel, education and office/industrial projects throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.eci.build.
SOURCE: Englewood Construction, Inc.