HardHatChat

APRIL 24, 2023

As a National General Contractor working across multiple verticals in the commercial construction space, we understand the challenges (COVID and Supply Chain) facing our retail, restaurant, hospitality, and senior housing clients. For example, the project can be risky if you only chase after the lowest bid.

Commercial 156

Commercial Construction Retail Housing 156

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 5, 2017

And for business owners and developers looking for guidance as they vet different options, there’s no better “matchmaker” to consult than an experienced commercial contractor who can point out the pros and cons of a location and the construction considerations that can make or break a project. Will any “unbranding” be necessary?

Site 229

Site Retail Commercial Construction 229

HardHatChat

JULY 25, 2016

It’s a pretty cool ground-up commercial construction project for us because not only is it the first time we’ve worked with this national retail brand, but it’s also the very first Farm & Fleet store in the Chicago area.

Commercial 120

Commercial Chicago Retail Contractors 120

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

But what I want to do is tell you what you may not know about the retail space construction of this Zara store and how to apply this information to your next retail construction project. 1. Hidden traps in retail construction approval process. Make sure your general contractor has a VIP playbook.

Retail 176

Retail Michigan Chicago Construction 176

HardHatChat

FEBRUARY 27, 2012

If your retail construction contractor can build retail stores like this on Michigan Avenue…. For as long as I’ve been in the commercial construction business , which is 30 years, there have been two conflicting trains of thought about clients hiring a general contractor who also works for a competitor. Bill Di Santo.

Commercial 179

Commercial Retail Contractors Renovating 179

HardHatChat

MARCH 4, 2019

One of the biggest challenges for commercial construction firms today is the tighter project timelines that have become the norm at every phase of a project – from shorter deadlines for submitting initial bids and budgets, to quicker resolution on addendums and change orders, to compressed schedules for construction and delivery.

Project Management 349

Project Management Commercial Management Construction 349

HardHatChat

MARCH 9, 2010

When it comes to current retail and commercial construction trends , we all know there aren’t a lot of new shopping centers under construction right now, or new office buildings under construction for that matter. What’s wrong with a general contractor focused on commercial construction costs and his construction schedule?

Contractors 192

Contractors Retail Remodeling Commercial 192

HardHatChat

AUGUST 21, 2012

Some of you are probably wondering if the travel costs that become part of the general conditions and overall construction budget of a national general contractor are worth it to the client. Wouldn’t it be easier to hire a local commercial contractor? I’m glad you asked. What’s your project?

Commercial 214

Commercial Contractors Retail Construction 214

HardHatChat

JANUARY 14, 2014

With the momentum that commercial general contractors were able to build last year, we expect 2014 to be an even better year for the commercial construction industry. This new retail commercial construction activity should play a prominent roll in 2014 as well. General contractors feast on restaurant deals.

Commercial 284

Commercial Retail Construction News 284

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

With the shuttering of stores like Circuit City and Linens N’ Things, big box retailers looking to gain market share certainly have their choice of vacant store locations in prime markets and shopping centers. Break rooms/kitchens. Electric service/breakers. Fire alarm and sprinkler systems.

Retail 176

Retail Commercial Construction Renovating 176

HardHatChat

JANUARY 15, 2018

As traditional retailers continue to be impacted by e-commerce, there is an ongoing discussion about how physical stores and shopping centers can compete within the new dynamics of the market. 2: Remixing the Mall. But today, these businesses, as well as sports and recreations concepts, are viable options for filling mall space.

Commercial 326

Commercial Remodeling Construction Renovating 326

HardHatChat

AUGUST 18, 2016

Involving your commercial contractor early-on for a large-scale project, such as this shopping center development Englewood Construction completed in Connecticut, allows the construction team to create a realistic timeline for key project milestones. This back and forth can cause huge delays before construction even begins.

Commercial 226

Commercial Construction Schedule Budgeting 226

HardHatChat

FEBRUARY 14, 2013

The activity level that we saw in the fourth quarter of 2012 in new retail, restaurant and hospitality construction projects is double what we saw a year earlier. Mike is a retail and restaurant construction expert with more than 30 years of experience. And his luxury hotel construction is some of the best in the business.

Commercial 259

Commercial News Retail Construction 259

HardHatChat

MARCH 14, 2014

Perhaps the most important aspect in this process will be engaging a national retail commercial contractor for advice and feasibility studies. 1) Don’t be afraid of a big retail construction project. 1) Don’t be afraid of a big retail construction project. 3) Develop a support plan for national retailers.

Retail 253

Retail Commercial Construction Feasibility 253

Construction Business Owner

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

The strength of a construction supply chain heavily depends on other industries — manufacturing, distribution and even retail-commerce — that siphon critical products to contractors and developers. How is your budget holding up under the prices of the raw materials and labor you’ve been choosing? Introduce Redundancies.

Management 296

Management Industrial Construction Materials 296

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 20, 2016

Here’s a look at our top 2016 commercial construction “highs” and “lows”: Low: Mall Retail Tenants Choose Local over National. However, over the last year, we’ve seen more retail brands award tenant build-out work to local firms rather than national construction partners. High: Big Opportunities in Big Box Retail.

Commercial 156

Commercial Retail Construction Chicago 156

HardHatChat

JULY 19, 2011

On one hand, retail sales continue to show improvement from last year, yet the suburban shopping mall – or at least the traditional enclosed shopping mall – seems to be on the way out. You want a general commercial contractor who understands all parties’ needs. Also, heed my warning on hiring low-bidding pick-up truck contractors.

Commercial 201

Commercial Retail Change Orders Construction 201

Wolgast Corporation

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

If you qualify as a busy business owner, you’d likely benefit from the Design-Builder finding qualified subcontractors, managing the construction schedule and your budget, and starting construction quicker. And Wolgast is your biggest advocate when it comes to speed.

Construction 62

Construction Bidding Design Schedule 62

HardHatChat

JULY 16, 2019

Englewood Construction is in the midst of two adaptive reuse projects right now – one a former meatpacking facility in Chicago that we’re updating for office, retail or restaurant use, and the other a former convent we’ll be converting into a senior living community. An adaptive reuse project is a creative blend of old and new.

Commercial 194

Commercial Retail Construction Office 194

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

When I think back on the most interesting construction projects and challenges I’ve handled in my career as a national commercial contractor, without a doubt some of the most memorable have been in landmark-status buildings. A great example of this is a retail space Englewood refurbished at Chicago’s famed Palmer House Hilton.

New York City 267

New York City Construction Chicago Permits 267

Wolgast Corporation

NOVEMBER 5, 2023

Setbacks & Zoning Each municipality is different in their requirements and the type of business, whether it’s a commercial office, retail or a manufacturing company can make a difference to setback and zoning provisions. It depends on the desire and budget of the client.

Zoning 62

Zoning Budgeting Budget Remodeling 62

HardHatChat

MAY 18, 2011

While I think everyone in the retail industry likes to hear news that 2011 retail sales are up – as it usually means new retail construction projects are in the pipeline – it’s still tough for shopping center landlords to make deals work with retail tenants. This is most popular with big retail leases in 2011.

Commercial 184

Commercial Retail Construction Bidding 184

Wolgast Corporation

JANUARY 12, 2023

In this process, the client or business owner holds contracts with the prime contractors, but by teaming with the Architect and Construction Manager, the supervision, budget and schedule monitoring, quality and overall progress are conducted for the client by experts who do this every day.

Commercial 84

Commercial Construction Retail Michigan 84

Construction Marketing

JANUARY 25, 2023

Commercial real estate development involves the process of acquiring, designing, constructing, and leasing or selling commercial properties such as office buildings, retail centers, and industrial parks. This includes creating a detailed project schedule, budget, and phasing plan.

Commercial 211

Commercial Leases Regulation Finance 211

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Working with a client on a design-assist or design-build basis, as Englewood Construction is with the reimagining of Stratford Square Mall, allows the commercial contractor to provide valuable input during the initial planning stages. Design-assist is a bit of a hybrid of the design-build process.

Commercial 120

Commercial Modeling Design Construction 120

HardHatChat

JUNE 23, 2015

Working with a commercial contractor on a negotiated-bid basis, as Englewood Construction does with long-term client American Girl, can minimize the likelihood you’ll hear “no” from your GC during the bidding process. As a national commercial contractor , we are first and foremost in the business of customer service.

Commercial 120

Commercial Contractors Bidding Negotiation 120

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 30, 2011

Value-based retailers like hhgregg, Ross Dress for Less and Savers should experience construction growth in 2012. It’s that time of year when our team predicts the 2012 commercial construction trends – from what’s on tap for Chicago retail construction to national restaurant construction and hospitality construction.

Commercial 179

Commercial Retail Chicago Construction 179

HardHatChat

JANUARY 18, 2011

I know this is a tough one to follow as we all need to keep commercial construction budgets in check, but we saw too many companies go with pick-up truck contractors in 2010 only to be burned later. Qualify general contractors that build in your wheelhouse. I’m sure the retailer was also surprised. Take a leap of faith.

Commercial 263

Commercial Bidding Negotiation Construction 263

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 22, 2015

Thanks to clients who put their trust in us, we’ve built on our roots in tenant interior finish jobs and retail in-store build-outs and found our niche in ground-up projects, flagship stores and high-end restaurant construction and hospitality work. Low – Retail’s Continued Slump.

Commercial 120

Commercial Industrial Retail Construction 120

HardHatChat

APRIL 11, 2014

The best work is typically done when a project is viewed as a partnership between a client and commercial general contractor. Here are the top three reasons to work with general commercial construction contractors in a negotiated bidding process. Like most businesses, the commercial construction industry is a relationship business.

Commercial 292

Commercial Negotiation Bidding Construction 292

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 22, 2011

We saw drawings for new Chicago restaurant projects, retail construction work, office renovations, school construction and learning center additions – you name it, we saw it. In fact, our commercial construction budget work was back to 2008 levels. Developers and retailers that would normally go 2 deep in bidding went 4 deep.

Commercial 207

Commercial Union Retail Construction 207

HardHatChat

JULY 11, 2013

Many general contractors decide to lower their risk and start commercial construction projects in the warmer months, paying a premium for nice weather, but assuring timely delivery. Also, a lot retail construction projects are initiated in the summer to have everything complete by November 1, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Commercial 276

Commercial Construction Bidding Chicago 276

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 17, 2010

We saw much-improved activity in shopping center construction – not necessarily the building of new malls, but in general commercial contractors working with landlords and developers on pre-construction services , such as commercial construction budgeting to help them propose attractive lease deals for new tenants.

Commercial 196

Commercial Retail Construction Chicago 196

HardHatChat

MARCH 23, 2010

After all, that’s what happens when you work as a shopping center general contractor as well as a national retail contractor. You hear the good, bad and ugly from shopping center landlords, mall and retail developers, architects and subcontractors. When it comes to building inspectors, the health department, etc.,

Retail 174

Retail Construction Bidding Contractors 174

Construction Marketing Ideas

MARCH 4, 2016

Englewood Construction’s Hard Hat Chat provides useful industry context information, while serving the contractor’s marketing message objectives. Yes, there is no doubt that the blog serves to promote this successful general contractor’s image and reputation, and attract and develop new business.

Contractors 48

Contractors Retail US Management 48

HardHatChat

MARCH 17, 2015

There are so many benefits to using design-build construction firms, it surprises me more owners and investors don’t hire design-build contractors for their new commercial construction projects. It’s not really a secret, but architects, engineers and commercial general contractors don’t always see eye to eye. True partnership.

Design 120

Design Commercial Budgeting Budget 120

HardHatChat

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

3, 2011, that didn’t mean the best Chicago contractors weren’t working. After all, shopping center landlords, restaurants and retailers couldn’t afford to be closed two days in a row. If you’re involved in Chicago retail construction , or any type of commercial construction in a cold weather climate, take note of the checklist below.

Chicago 196

Chicago Commercial Retail Construction 196