HardHatChat

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

As a shopping center landlord or retail developer, you might find yourself with a big empty retail space you need fill – especially if you had Borders or Circuit City as a tenant. became a multi-tenant commercial construction job…. The answer is none. If your GC doesn’t know that rule, don’t work with them.

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Retail Commercial Budget Budgeting 218

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

We are coming into the final stretch of 2013, a year that has been rather good for the commercial construction industry. 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.

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Commercial Industrial Chicago Retail 283

HardHatChat

JULY 15, 2014

to create better foot-traffic flow and help struggling retailers. Many shopping centers owners have difficulty leasing or keeping consistent retail tenants in certain portions of their shopping mall. More importantly, this demographic concentration would appeal to retailers such as toy stores or a children’s clothing store.

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Leases Commercial Retail Contractors 264

HardHatChat

NOVEMBER 30, 2010

Fast-casual restaurants like Noodles & Company should be a bright spot for commercial construction in 2011. It’s that time of year again, when I dust off the crystal ball to predict commercial construction trends for the following year. Around Labor Day 2008, the faucet shut off for commercial construction projects.

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Commercial Retail Construction Renovating 261

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 19, 2018

So before we officially ring in 2019, here is our rundown of Englewood Construction’s commercial construction trends “highs” and “lows” from 2018: High: A Sizable Senior Living Pipeline. We’re several years into the construction labor shortage, and it continues to impact nearly every aspect of the commercial construction industry.

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Commercial Retail Industrial Construction 328

HardHatChat

JUNE 11, 2013

The tone of the attendees at ICSC’s “Global Retail Real Estate Convention” (RECon) in Las Vegas last month was as positive and energizing as it was in the commercial construction boom years before 2008. Retailers are starting to feel more confident and expansions are on the horizon. Business is good. Overall, confidence is high.

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ICSC Commercial Las Vegas Retail 233

HardHatChat

JANUARY 15, 2018

As we flip the calendar over to 2018 this month, it’s a great time to share some of the commercial construction trends we predict will shape our work in the year ahead. #1: As the nature of shopping centers evolve, commercial construction firms will continue to be busy reworking existing mall retail space for new purposes. #3:

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Commercial Remodeling Construction Renovating 326

HardHatChat

APRIL 11, 2014

Like most businesses, the commercial construction industry is a relationship business. The best work is typically done when a project is viewed as a partnership between a client and commercial general contractor. By defining expectations, the commercial construction contractor will undoubtedly deliver a better final product.

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Commercial Negotiation Bidding Construction 292

HardHatChat

JANUARY 18, 2011

January is a great time to create a commercial construction checklist of resolutions to help improve your commercial real estate business in the coming year. Schedule a commercial construction preventive maintenance visit. Qualify general contractors that build in your wheelhouse. I’m sure the retailer was also surprised.

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Commercial Bidding Negotiation Construction 263

HardHatChat

MARCH 28, 2011

Now that spring is officially here, I wanted to reflect on the Chicago retail construction trends and news we’ve seen so far in 2011. From the new commercial construction projects we know are in the pipeline, to what I heard at the recent Bisnow Chicago Retail Summit , I am cautiously optimistic. Good News/Bad News.

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Retail Chicago News Bidding 220

HardHatChat

JULY 11, 2013

Construction season is upon us, and you know what that means…rising commercial construction costs. The summer always brings more commercial construction activity, more bids, and, as a result, higher pricing. The best general contractors can help soften the blow of price escalations through best practices and being savvy.

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Commercial Construction Bidding Chicago 276

HardHatChat

FEBRUARY 14, 2013

As commercial construction news reports say business continues to pick up, we are happy to see some new faces around the office at Englewood Construction. That’s right; we are adding staff to our national commercial general contracting firm in what has been a very robust period of activity. That approach is bearing fruit now.

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Commercial News Retail Construction 259

HardHatChat

MAY 13, 2014

Be sure to check references of general contractors before entering into a negotiated or competitive bid situation. We never like it when scandal rocks the commercial construction industry. A properly-sized commercial general contractor is going to maintain a certain amount of overhead. That’s a given.

Commercial 281

Commercial Bidding Negotiation Construction 281

HardHatChat

OCTOBER 17, 2022

Between 2018 and 2022, Englewood’s national construction work in the cannabis retail industry grew by 100% and we expect that trajectory to continue as more states legalize recreational marijuana use and cannabis firms expand into new markets. That said, state regulations do add some additional layers to the nuts and bolts of these projects.

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Retail Green Construction Regulation 296

HardHatChat

FEBRUARY 13, 2014

In the depths of a historically cold Midwestern winter, one market has remained particularly hot for Chicago commercial general contractors—grocery store construction. When undertaking a big grocery construction project, there are a few things that the best general contractors will always look out for. Parking is a premium.

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Retail Chicago Construction Commercial 254

HardHatChat

OCTOBER 10, 2013

It’s taken some time, but shopping mall commercial construction activity is back in a big way, as owners and operators have initiated only what can be described as a renovation renaissance. Almost everywhere we look, it seems an older, out-dated shopping mall is undergoing a substantial commercial construction renovation.

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Retail Renovating Chicago Commercial 222

HardHatChat

MAY 16, 2017

Hopefully, we’ll see some of those fresh young graduates heading toward a career in commercial construction. I’ll be watching to see how you find your path and leave your own mark on the commercial construction industry. Part of the reason I say this is the current hiring situation in the construction industry. Tel: 847-233-9200 x712.

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Commercial Construction Contractors Management 344

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DECEMBER 6, 2018

Here are our predictions of the four commercial construction industry trends we expect will shape our work in different sectors – and the construction landscape overall – in the year ahead: Senior Housing Communities Woo Workers with Facility Updates. Developers Think Outside the Big Box to Fill Retail Vacancies.

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Commercial Industrial Retail Construction 319

HardHatChat

JUNE 21, 2012

Observations and Conversations about Commercial Construction, Development and Management. What are Today’s Best New Retail Developments? I get asked a lot about commercial construction trends. Recently someone asked me: “What is the best retail center to build today?”. Restaurant. Shopping Center. Hospitality.

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Retail Commercial Chicago Leases 216

HardHatChat

JULY 23, 2012

While most of us will accept delayed Olympic news due to the time zone difference, the same isn’t true when working with international brands and new retail construction. The other year we were building a handful of stateside stores for Michael Hill, a New Zealand-based jewelry retailer, which is 16 hours ahead of Chicago. So at 7 p.m.

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Retail Michigan Chicago Zoning 207

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.

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Project Management Commercial Management Construction 349

HardHatChat

MAY 4, 2010

At the end of 2009, I wrote a blog post called “Commercial Construction Trends to Watch in 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. Think I’ll give myself a “B” on that one.

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Retail Commercial Construction Remodeling 159

HardHatChat

AUGUST 21, 2012

For those who don’t know, Englewood Construction is a national commercial construction firm , so our business has been built on servicing our clients where they need us. Wouldn’t it be easier to hire a local commercial contractor? In this case, we were needed in Williston, ND and Glendive, MT.

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Commercial Contractors Retail Construction 214

HardHatChat

OCTOBER 7, 2010

Commercial construction contractors can save clients thousands of dollars by knowing the right time to buy certain materials. I heard a Home Depot ad on the radio recently targeted to commercial general contractors that made me pause. On the surface, the ad is true – buying building materials in bulk is cheaper.

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Commercial Materials Construction Contractors 235

HardHatChat

JUNE 7, 2010

Commercial construction preventive maintenance. Granted the explosion and resulting oil spill is a worst case scenario, but it begs the question: Do you have the appropriate commercial construction preventive maintenance checklist in place? For a more detailed preventive maintenance construction punch list you can email me.

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Commercial Retail Construction Negotiation 243

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 22, 2011

As 2011 comes to a close, it’s time for us to look back on the commercial construction building trends , news and projects of this past year and share our thoughts on the highs and lows in the industry. In fact, our commercial construction budget work was back to 2008 levels. HIGH – Everyone was submitting drawings in 2011.

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Commercial Union Retail Construction 207

HardHatChat

MAY 31, 2012

Don't forget to vet your general contractor's background and experience when reviewing bids. This quartet from Englewood Construction has almost 100 years of combined commercial construction experience among them -- (l to r) Chuck Taylor, Bill Di Santo, Kim Redmond and Rod Frank. Playing fair starts at the top.

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Commercial Union Chicago Bidding 245

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 ? So if your general contractor doesn’t tell you the same thing, then you’re not working with one of the best Chicago contractors.

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Retail Chicago Commercial Michigan 205

HardHatChat

MARCH 26, 2024

Selecting the right national commercial construction general contractor is a critical decision that can significantly impact the success of your construction project. Over the past 20+ years, with 2500 completed commercial construction projects, we have learned that it takes more than a great price to win a bid. is essential.

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Commercial Contractors Construction Project Management 177

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 16, 2013

For savvy commercial real estate investors and venture funds, terrific opportunities exist today to purchase and reposition underperforming shopping malls. Consumers kept money in their pockets, retailers stopped expanding and owners ceased new retail construction for their facilities. 4) Solid retail connections.

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Retail Management Commercial Construction 204

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.

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Commercial Retail Construction Bidding 184

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.

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Commercial Retail Contractors Renovating 179

HardHatChat

OCTOBER 21, 2011

Most of the commercial construction news we discuss in this blog involves new Chicago retail and restaurant construction projects or analyzing commercial construction trends. We weren’t sure how many of you would find Hard Hat Chat, or keep reading after our first blog post, Retail Development and Construction: Getting Started.

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Commercial San Antonio Retail Construction 221

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 17, 2010

I’ll say it again, 2010 was a rebuilding year for the commercial construction industry. So I’ve created a commercial construction checklist for what we considered the highs and lows of 2010 commercial construction trends. There are still far too many distressed commercial properties on the market.

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Commercial Retail Construction Chicago 196

HardHatChat

AUGUST 7, 2019

Given that our firm already has experience working with clients on medicinal and recreational marijuana dispensary construction projects in other states, we know firsthand that this legislation will quickly lead to new activity in the local commercial real estate and construction landscape. Security, Mechanicals and More.

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Legal Commercial Retail Illinois 260

HardHatChat

JULY 19, 2011

It’s a mixed bag of commercial construction news for shopping center developement. 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.

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Commercial Retail Change Orders Construction 201

HardHatChat

DECEMBER 15, 2009

At the beginning of 2009, I don’t think anyone, including a national commercial general contractor like Englewood Construction, was prepared for the twists and turns that would face the commercial construction industry. High – Niche or value-driven retail construction. High – Green building. 3 Dollar General.

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Commercial Retail Chicago Construction 196