Remove Chicago Remove Drawings Remove Retail
article thumbnail

What Wal-Mart in Pullman Means for Chicago Retail and Restaurant Construction … and My Heart

HardHatChat

The recent Chicago City Council approval of a second Wal-Mart in the city limits is excellent news for Chicago’s commercial construction industry. History shows commercial developers do well opening new big box retail stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot or Best Buy near Wal-Marts. Unions, politics, retail construction.

Chicago 205
article thumbnail

New Ideas for Old Shopping Malls: 3 Ways Retail Developers are Remixing the Shopping Center Experience

HardHatChat

Coming out of the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon convention in Las Vegas last month, there’s been a lot of conversation in the media around the future of retail development. 2) Vehicles to “Drive” Mall Traffic. 2) Vehicles to “Drive” Mall Traffic.

Retail 288
professionals

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Commercial Construction Highs and Lows of 2011

HardHatChat

HIGH – Everyone was submitting drawings in 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. Developers and retailers that would normally go 2 deep in bidding went 4 deep. I was wrong.

article thumbnail

Five Predictions for Commercial Construction Trends in 2011

HardHatChat

By Thanksgiving of 2009, there was a trickle of new drawings coming in, which increased to a steady flow throughout 2010. There are some great opportunities, especially in retail construction , as highly motivated landlords are offering prime locations with attractive rents. Apple Magic. International Invasion. Fast-Casual.

article thumbnail

Best and Worst of Commercial Construction Practices in 2009

HardHatChat

As this year draws to a close, let’s look back on some of the highs and lows of what was a challenging year. Low – Chicago losing the 2016 Olympic bid. When Chicago lost the 2016 Olympic bid this fall, it was a devastating blow to the city’s restaurant and retail construction industry. High – Green building.

article thumbnail

Understanding Today’s Separation of Landlord and Commercial Tenant Construction

HardHatChat

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.

article thumbnail

Commercial Construction Checklist for Retrofitting a Shopping Center in Today’s Climate

HardHatChat

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. Most retailers today want less space. And I know people don’t believe this, but the best Chicago contractors hate change orders.