PLANNING A RESTAURANT RENOVATION

Once your restaurant has been open for an extended period of time, you may consider updating your physical space. People visit restaurants to get a break from their everyday lives, socialize with friends and colleagues, have someone else cook for them, and take care of the cleanup. Many consumers have high expectations when it comes to eating out, and if your restaurant is starting to look outdated, it may affect your repeat business. Many industry insiders indicate that most restaurants are due for an update or remodel every five to seven years. 

If you have watched any of the numerous makeover shows that you can find on HDTV, Bravo, and Netflix, they make the process look easy and quick and can be done on a shoestring budget. Although these shows are entertaining to watch, they are not built on realism. 

Once you have decided that it is the right time to begin the process, there are some steps that you will want to consider to ensure that your remodel is as seamless as possible. First, it is important to note that a restaurant renovation is a big step. Renovations and remodels can be costly, stressful, and impact your business during and after the renovation. Once you have decided that moving forward with a renovation is right for your business, there are some things you should keep in mind. 

What’s the Plan?

First and foremost, when you have made the decision to renovate your restaurant, the initial question you need to ask yourself is, “What is my desired outcome?” Are you looking to modernize your kitchen, redesign the dining area, create a better work-through flow, or looking to start from scratch from a design perspective?

It is smart to analyze how other restaurants have successfully achieved the results they were looking for after a renovation. In addition, check in with your peers, your customers, and your staff as well. 

Branding is important to look at when you are in the initial phases of your renovation. What is your company brand, and how will that influence your design decisions for your renovation? Is your decision to renovate an opportunity to rebrand your restaurant? 

Setting Your Budget

First off, renovations generally cost more than one would expect. Working with the right contractor will help you get to where you need to be, budget-wise. While it is difficult to narrow down an exact number for a restaurant renovation because there are so many variables, the range seems to be $150 – $400 per square foot. These numbers will vary depending on materials, construction costs, and other factors, according to Global Restaurant Consultants, Aaron Allen & Associates. 

Depending on the scope of your renovation, you will want to be sure you are prepared financially. You want to make sure that you take into consideration if you need to close down the restaurant or scale back operations when budgeting. 

Hiring the Right Contractor

Partnering with a contractor for your restaurant renovation will be one of the most important decisions you will make during this process. Restaurant design experience is crucial for any contractor you look at working with. You want to ensure that they have references and are reputable and trustworthy. Your contractor will work with you to create the design, so it is vital that they understand your vision, timeline, and budget. Riken Construction has the experience and knowledge to meet your needs and is happy to provide references for our past work. 

Current Design Trends

You want to look at current design trends within the restaurant industry and how they fit into your vision. Take the time to analyze the current trends and adopt the ones that will differentiate you from your competitors, create the ambiance that mirrors your brand, and create the proper workflow for your restaurant. Remember that you want to look at both the kitchen and dining areas. Understanding your overall goal is imperative before you start the design process. 

Project Management

Finding the right contractor will assist you in managing your project from start to finish. Still, it is also crucial for you to have someone within your organization managing the project and decision-making capabilities. Depending on the setup of your organization, that may be yourself or someone on your team. Either way, this person will play an integral role in the renovation. 

Part of managing the renovation process includes communicating the renovation with your team and customers. Giving them ample warning and what they can expect during the renovation and after is necessary to keep your team engaged and as a customer after the renovation is complete. Be sure to include the marketing dollars that you will need to communicate your renovation with your customers. 

When the time comes for you to consider a renovation of your restaurant, there are several factors that you want to consider. According to industry studies, an increase of 10-20% was seen in the sales of restaurants that had undergone a renovation. Setting the right goals and partnering with the right contractor can ensure success. 

Riken Construction is ready to take the vision you have for your restaurant and make it a reality. We are confident that our experience working with the restaurant industry and our team of experts will provide you with an experience that is second to none. 

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Riken Construction and Design, LLC. provides our clients with the highest level of quality construction and consulting services at fair and market-competitive rates. Our pledge is to establish lasting relationships with our customers by exceeding their expectations and gaining their trust through exceptional performance by every member of the construction team. To fulfill our goal, we treat all employees fairly and involve them in the quality improvement process to insure responsiveness and cost-effective work practices. Our clients count on our dependability, our drive, and our integrity. We take great pride in our accomplishments and build on them every day. To learn more about Riken Construction, call us at321.363.4904 or email [email protected].