Hire a General Contractor with Restaurant Experience

When I speak with new clients about opening a new restaurant, the topic of a restaurant general contractor comes up very early on in the process. Hiring a general contractor who is familiar with the specific needs of building a restaurant is an important aspect of starting your restaurant off on the right foot.  There are many reasons for this, and I thought I’d share a few.

A general contractor who builds restaurants will provide you with a more accurate quote and timeline.

Understanding the lead-time on specific materials, the installation process, the “tricks of the trade” will have less delays, less overages, and ultimately cost you less even if the up front estimate seems to be higher.

A general contractor who builds restaurants understands the different plumbing and electrical needs of a restaurant.

For example, he or she knows the difference between a Floor drain, Floor sink, & Trough.   It’s important that your architect understand the different solutions to kitchen-specific needs.

The right contractor is familiar with finishes and flooring needs in the kitchen.

It’s important your architect knows tile vs. epoxy floors, FRP walls, or drop-down tiles in the kitchen compared with the dining room, and how lighting affects the appearance of your proteins.

A local restaurant general contractor architect knows local regulations and the inspectors.

Restaurants must undergo several levels of inspections across multiple departments — building, fire, health, etc.  Each department is different in their requirements for restaurants, and these departments may vary from county to county as well.     Contractors who have intimate understanding of these inspections, and know the inspectors, save time and money in the building process.

There are many other benefits of partnering with a general contractor who is experienced with restaurant construction, and Salt & Cayenne  has had the pleasure of working with many outstanding firms.  Salt & Cayenne takes pride in bridging the gap between the architectural layout, the equipment layout, the build-out, and the inspection process.

Contact us for any of your new restaurant needs, and we’ll be happy to help you find a building partner, or work with your General Contractor of choice to make sure you’re set up for success!