2015 commercial construction predictions: improved economy to mean more construction and renovations

Chicago - Top commercial construction trends for 2015 include an increase in retail and restaurant ground-up construction and a rise in shopping mall renovations, according to national general construction firm Englewood Construction.



“Confident in the improving economy, national retailers and restaurant owners have been adding new locations this year, and we expect that activity to continue in 2015,” said William Di Santo, president of Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction. “Shopping mall owners are also renovating their space to make trips to the mall more experiential.”



According to DiSanto, in 2014 many retailers and restaurateurs “added new venues as well as tore down existing stores and replaced them with new ones in order to meet brand standards. “While there still is ample space for retrofits in empty storefronts, we’re seeing more focus on ground-up construction.”

Englewood recently started three new ground-up projects toward the end of 2014, a Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant in Oak Lawn, Illinois, a Seasons 52 restaurant from Darden in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and a 55,000-sq.-ft. Hobby Lobby at Seabrook Crossings in Seabrook, New Hampshire. In 2014, Englewood completed a ground-up Goodwill store in the Chicago area.



“Over the past few years, the majority of restaurant construction has been confined to upscale activity,” Di Santo said. “That has changed in recent months as consumers are returning in all categories, including fine dining, fast casual and fast food. As a result, we expect a very robust pipeline for restaurant work in 2015.”

Englewood also recently began an expansion at white tablecloth restaurant The Purple Pig in Chicago, as well as the renovation of a Yard House in Kansas City’s Power and Light District. Englewood is also working with Red Robin and Buffalo Wild Wings in the fast casual arena to roll out several new restaurants in 2015.



In the area of mall renovations, investors will continue revitalizing and revamping malls over the upcoming year, according to Englewood, such as the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, Illinois, whose owners recently tapped Englewood to manage the mall’s redesign, construction and tenant coordination. “The traditional mall has faced an uphill battle as competition from lifestyle centers and online shopping has only increased in recent years,” said Di Santo. “To draw shoppers to malls, investors will be adding entertainment venues, fine dining and other features that cannot be recreated online.”



“People are willing to go out and spend money on services they cannot get at home.” Di Santo said. “Entertainment options, such as new theater and bowling concepts, are both trending for 2015.”