HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

Over the last few years, Englewood Construction has been involved in several flagship store and brand expansion projects with our national retail, fitness, and restaurant clients. Flagship Retail Relocation – American Girl Building or relocating national retail flagship stores nationwide is nothing new to Englewood Construction.

Commercial 156

Commercial Los Angeles Retail Construction 156

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

There’s no doubt that local businesses will have much to celebrate if on October 2, 2009, Chicago wins the 2016 Summer Olympics bid. But just how would Chicago hosting the Olympics affect the city’s restaurant and retail construction activity ? Retail and restaurant construction would most likely start in 2015.

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Chicago Retail Bidding Permits 120

HardHatChat

JUNE 21, 2012

What are Today’s Best New Retail Developments? With the way the commercial real estate market has been the last several years, people are looking to commercial construction experts for the best construction tips on how to proceed with a successful new retail development. Restaurant. Shopping Center. Hospitality. Office/Industrial.

Retail 216

Retail Commercial Chicago Leases 216

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

Earlier this month, the Englewood Construction team was honored to be recognized as one of the Best Restaurant Contractors in Chicago by Chicago Architects. This recognition also got me thinking about what sets a really great restaurant contractor apart from a general construction firm.

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Contractors Inspections Construction Commercial 324

HardHatChat

MARCH 15, 2011

Englewood Construction has worked on a number of Chicago retail construction projects in high-traffic urban areas, such as American Girl Place on Michigan Avenue. Is this a new retail construction trend ? Probably so. But, in a residential building like Presidential Towers, you can’t do that.

Retail 205

Retail Chicago Commercial Michigan 205

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 11, 2014

The increased commercial construction activity paved the way for some large new retail construction projects and restaurant construction, as national retailers and restaurant owners became more confident in the improving economy. When more retailers are packed together, some can get lost in the shuffle.

Commercial 299

Commercial Retail Industrial Construction 299

HardHatChat

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

The Chicago blizzard of 2011 is a story we’ll be talking about for generations. 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. Any commercial project started after Dec.

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Chicago Commercial Retail Construction 196

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

Englewood Construction recently completed a Season’s 52 on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. Activity was up for retail and restaurant construction and once-stalled commercial construction projects are finding themselves back on 2014 bid sheets for the best commercial general contractors. In Glenview, Ill.,

Commercial 283

Commercial Industrial Chicago Retail 283

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Michigan Avenue in Chicago is seeing a mix of high-end retailers and value retailers, a trend that will continue in 2013 in markets across the country. This mix benefits retailers such as American Girl, which Englewood built out in 2009 at Water Tower Place, as more foot traffic passes through the area.

Commercial 289

Commercial Retail Chicago Construction 289

HardHatChat

AUGUST 12, 2014

Recently, Englewood completed the 23,000-square-foot Harry Carays 7th Inning Stretch and Chicago Sports Museum at Chicagos famed Water Tower Place. Commercial general contractors are finding plenty of opportunities in the office, apartment and hotel construction markets right now. Design savings.

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Chicago Commercial Construction Remodeling 278

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

in Chicago. For those familiar with Chicago, you may also know this store offers a prime corner location on the city’s famed Magnificent Mile. 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.

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Retail Michigan Chicago Construction 176

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

MAY 4, 2010

With four months under our belt, I think the time is right to revisit one of the trends I mentioned called “Back on Track” and its relevance to the retail construction industry. As for new retail construction, it seems the big winners are niche retail brands that dominate a market category, such as American Girl and lululemon.

Retail 159

Retail Commercial Construction Remodeling 159

HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

What Every Developer Should Ask General Contractors During the Retail Construction Bid Process. For my first blog post, a lot of people at Englewood Construction suggested I write about how to choose a retail construction company. If a general contractor answers “no” to any of these questions, then cut them loose.

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Retail Bidding Construction Contractors 136

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.

Commercial 179

Commercial Retail Contractors Renovating 179

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 9, 2014

According to a recent article from Crain’s Chicago Business , signed contracts for construction projects in the Chicago area were at $4.3 Nothing gets a national commercial contractor more excited than moving dirt. Low – Retail takes a step back. Mall renovation work was a highlight of 2014.

Commercial 192

Commercial Retail Construction Chicago 192

HardHatChat

APRIL 20, 2010

For those familiar with Chicago retail construction , think back a couple of years to when the dated Orland Park Place interior mall underwent construction and turned itself inside out to became one of the area’s most successful outdoor shopping centers. Hire a design-build general contractor.

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Retail Construction Commercial Chicago 191

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?

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Site Retail Commercial Construction 229

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

MAY 12, 2015

It’s rare for the words “cool” and “general contractor” to be used in the same sentence. Every blog I’ve written for the award-winning HardHatChat popped up, interviews with media about the state of Chicago construction jobs – it was all there. In person, he embodies the definition of an old-school general contractor.

Commercial 120

Commercial Contractors Retail Chicago 120

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. As a national commercial construction firm, it’s not surprising the majority of our 2016 revenue came from work outside our home market of Chicago. High: Big Opportunities in Big Box Retail.

Commercial 156

Commercial Retail Construction Chicago 156

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

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

BD+C

JUNE 20, 2014

It looks like the historic yet long neglected Old Main Post Office in Chicago will get a face-lift pretty soon. British investor Bill Davies of International Property Developers North America (IPD) has partnered up with Chicago-based Sterling Bay Cos. on a $500 million first-phase project, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

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Chicago Maine Office Retail 49

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 6, 2018

I recently attended a senior housing conference in Chicago where a panelist discussed the challenge senior housing operators face in hiring and retaining caregivers and other staff given the high hourly wages offered by employers like Amazon. Developers Think Outside the Big Box to Fill Retail Vacancies.

Commercial 319

Commercial Industrial Retail Construction 319

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. I didn’t think the number of commercial general contractors bidding on one job could be higher than what we saw in 2010. I was wrong.

Commercial 207

Commercial Union Retail Construction 207

HardHatChat

APRIL 12, 2016

The other day I was talking with a Chicago-area client who didn’t realize Englewood is a national general contractor that manages national commercial construction projects across the country. He asked me, “You only have offices in Chicago, right? So how does that work?”. Knowing the Local Terrain.

Commercial 120

Commercial Contractors Management New York City 120

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

BD+C

MAY 16, 2013

Hoping to send a loud message that Chicago is serious about luring tourism and entertainment spending, the Emanuel administration today released details of two initiatives that have been developing for more than a year and that it says will mean $1.1 billion in investment. Body Image: read more.

Chicago 63

Chicago Retail Plans Engineering 63

HardHatChat

JANUARY 19, 2015

Retailer reinvention is good for commercial general contractors. Consumers came back to the market in 2014 and retailers and restaurateurs felt the benefits. Retailers were not content to simply put up new locations with old blueprints and designs. As retailers and restaurateurs set to reinvent themselves, so do we.

Commercial 120

Commercial Retail Construction News 120

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

HardHatChat

APRIL 16, 2013

Unlike traditional retailers, restaurants are not feeling the pressure of on-line competition. Olive Garden is building its first location in Chicago. In the past, its owners wouldn’t have wanted to pay high restaurant development costs to compete with the neighborhood Italian restaurants that seem ubiquitous in a city like Chicago.

Commercial 214

Commercial Chicago Construction News 214

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

HardHatChat

MAY 31, 2012

Don't forget to vet your general contractor's background and experience when reviewing bids. While there are three sides to every story, recent commercial construction news stories like this one from the Chicago Tribune , “Construction firm caught in contract probe” , really burn me up. Playing fair starts at the top.

Commercial 245

Commercial Union Chicago Bidding 245

HardHatChat

MARCH 14, 2019

After all, the strongest foundation you can give any commercial construction project is a solid partnership between the client and the commercial contractor. We kept in touch as I moved to the project management side of the business and he moved around to positions with several national retailers.

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Commercial Management Construction US 364

HardHatChat

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

We were pulling a feeder cable through a Chicago retail construction project when we heard the explosion. At one point or another, even the best Chicago commercial construction contractors are susceptible to a construction site demon. Find the original general commercial contractor of your project site. See below).

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CSI Commercial Site Retail 136

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 commercial construction trends for the upcoming year– from what’s on tap for Chicago retail construction to national restaurant construction and hospitality construction.

Commercial 120

Commercial Retail Construction Chicago 120