How Smart Commercial Remodels Reduce Long-Term Repair Costs
Many commercial remodels focus on opening day. Fresh finishes, new layouts, and a polished look for customers.
When remodeling your restaurant, it’s so much more than just design and overall aesthetic. Refreshing your space ensures the proper emotions are evoked from your customers the minute they walk through the door, leaving them with a lasting impression. In combination with incredible food, your restaurant will be impossible to forget.
If you hope to update your space in the near future, here are 8 things to consider in a restaurant remodel.
1. Commercial Kitchen Workflow
The kitchen is arguably the most important part of your restaurant. It’s the heart of your restaurant and the most important place that needs to be organized, practical, and versatile all at the same time. You need enough space for your chefs and cooks to get around without using too much space that you won’t have enough room for customers—and vice versa. The flow of your kitchen should make sense to a cook and be balanced with the rest of your restaurant. There are a few common layouts for commercial kitchens that you should review before deciding on the right option for your restaurant. You can view those on our blog: How to Design Your Commercial Kitchen Workflow
2. Flow of Current Customers and Employees in Front of House
Your restaurant refresh should be based on initial customer behavior and should fix any ongoing problems you’re aware of. Is it hard for your servers to navigate your space currently? Is the waiting area big enough or are customers crammed together during busy hours? Are you currently making the best use of the space you have?
These are all questions that you need to ask when outlining your restaurant renovation.
3. Bathroom Design and Placement
Bathroom design and placement are huge in a restaurant. You want restrooms out of the way but still easy to find. On top of that, having a cohesive design both in the restaurant and in your restrooms is crucial. If there’s too much of a difference, it’ll be like walking through the wardrobe in Narnia. Your customers won’t know what they just walked into. Furthermore, you want your design to accent and add to your restaurant design without overpowering it.
4. Restaurant Building Permits
Building permits for commercial spaces and restaurants is another giant factor in your renovation goals. Before starting your design, it’s imperative that you understand your limitations and flexibility in the design of your space. Permits are going to be different depending on where you’re located and might even have specific building rules, so knowing these beforehand will determine you’re staying within the confines of your given space.
Related Content: Planning for a Successful Commercial Bathroom Remodel
5. Overall Aesthetic
The aesthetic of your restaurant is going to be how you differentiate yourself from your competitors. Giving your customers something to remember outside of your phenomenal food will ensure that you catch their attention and have them coming back for more. While making your food memorable is the biggest step, having a memorable overall experience is just as important. And it starts with the eyes. Create a focal point, make sure colors are cohesive, and give your guests a lot to remember.
6. Bar and Drink Space
If your restaurant has a bar, you want to make it a focal point. Liquor is one of the easiest and most lucrative upsales, so you want to ensure that it’s hard to miss. Many of the most successful restaurants add shiny mirrors, classy designs, and flawless organization and details to draw the eye of everyone in the room. If the customer wasn’t thinking about liquor when they walked in, they can’t help but consider it once they sit down.
If your restaurant doesn’t have a bar space, it’s still important to consider where to put pop machines and refrigerators in or outside of the kitchen to ensure they don’t get in the way.
7. Room for Growth
Your ultimate goal from your restaurant restoration is to increase your customers and boost customer loyalty. However, you may need additional space to grow. What does your growth plan look like? If you did grow, would you look to add on to the current building (if that’s an option) or be looking for a second location? Is adding outdoor seating to expand the number of tables an option? These are all things to consider when planning for the future.
8. Finding the Right Partner
The last crucial component to consider is who to work with to finish your restaurant renovation. In a restaurant, it’s important to have a fast turnaround and have incredible work done the first time. Redos aren’t an option.
If you want to work with a professional building team, Titus Contracting is a great option if your restaurant is in the Twin Cities. We have years of experience renovating restaurant spaces and more. Reach out today to discuss your building goals, and we’ll help you craft the best design that meets your needs.
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Titus Contracting is a full-service remodeling company offering commercial and residential construction. We have an office in Burnsville, Minnesota and work throughout the Twin Cities.
