The Best Retail Contractors in New York City (2022)

For retail store owners in New York City, constructing or renovating a commercial space requires a distinct blend of thoughtful planning and innovative ideas. In a city where trends shift rapidly, the expertise of a skilled retail general contractor is invaluable. These specialty contractors offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of retail construction and renovation projects. Finding the right contractor ensures your project is completed efficiently and stands out in the competitive market.

New York City, with a population of 8.336 million and a median home value of $838,000, is a bustling hub of retail activity. According to permit data from this municipality, 150 retail projects have occurred over the past two years. The cost of retail construction projects in this city ranges from $150,000 to $1,100,000 and can go as high as $1,950,000, with an average cost per square foot of $109.13. Given these significant investments, selecting a contractor who can deliver quality work on time and within budget is crucial. Projects in NYC often take up to 18 months to complete, highlighting the importance of choosing a reliable contractor to manage long-term timelines and complex urban construction challenges.

In this article, we will spotlight some of the best retail construction companies in New York. These contractors are known for their expertise, reliability, and innovative approaches to retail construction. Whether you are building a new store or renovating an existing space, these companies provide the skills and experience necessary to transform your vision into reality. By partnering with the right contractor, you can ensure your retail project is executed flawlessly, helping you stay competitive and relevant in the ever-evolving New York City market.

Overview: The Best Retail Contractors in New York City (2022)

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more. 

EW Howell

48 West 37th St, 2nd FL, New York, NY 10018

With a history of 125 years, EW Howell has built a strong reputation in the New York City construction industry. EW Howell was founded by Elmer Howell and George Brown and is now led by Howard Rowland, the current president. By keeping up to date with the most current building technologies and innovations, E.W. Howell continues to be one of NYC’s most prominent construction firms.

Among the best construction companies in New York, EW Howell has completed multiple Lowe’s stores, including this new construction in Garden City. The 126,482-square-foot retail store was built with a 15,196 square-foot outdoor garden center. The company has also constructed over sixteen Target stores over 25 years. Target stores range from 120,000 to 150,000 square feet, including a dry goods grocery area.

Aurora Contractors

100 Raynor Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

Aurora Contractors, founded by Frank Vero, Sr., provides high-quality buildouts while maintaining competitive pricing. They aim to exceed expectations while developing lasting relationships by providing creative solutions from the contracting phase through the end of construction.

Aurora is a general contractor with design-build and construction management abilities and a varied and expansive portfolio all over New York. Its work has garnered accolades, including the Commercial Project of the Year Award from the Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Top Hospitality Development Real Estate Award.

Aurora Contractors was selected by Macy’s to act as the general contractor for their three-story, 160,000-square-foot store at Bay Plaza in the Bronx, New York. The project features extensive marble, glass, and LED lighting, giving shoppers a unique experience.

JRM Construction Management

242 West 36th St, 11th Floor New York, NY 10018

JRM Construction Management is a construction management and general contracting firm based in New York City. David McWilliams founded the firm and takes pride in its accountability, diversity, teamwork, and excellence. Among the top construction companies in New York, its project was featured in The New York Times.

JRM Construction Management recently completed work on the Gucci NYC Flagship Store, Gucci’s largest retail establishment. The construction featured four floors of selling space, three glass-enclosed floors, and a striking staircase made of brass and glass. JRM Construction Work has been recognized with the IFMA Award for Excellence and the Thea Award.

Holt Construction

875 Avenue of the Americas, Suite #1100, New York, NY 10001

Holt Construction is a full-service construction firm. It was originally founded by Fred Holt and is now led by CEO Jack Holt. Holt Construction stands on three core values: building lasting relationships, upholding respect, honesty, and integrity, and maintaining harmony and efficiency.

Holt Construction completed a retail store fit-out at the iconic Westfield World Trade Center Oculus. The space was designed to mimic the exterior of a vintage oak wine barrel, which is more evident when viewing the 40-foot ceiling. The modern rustic motif is echoed by the floor-to-ceiling white oak cabinets filled with wine from across the globe, along with specialty display lighting to illuminate the products. At the back of the space are state-of-the-art refrigerators to house specialty wines with built-in display lights. Behind the coolers is a combined office and kitchen area that serves as a venue for free wine-tasting events.

Michilli

160 Varick St, Suite #1101, New York, NY 10013

Michilli, founded by Angelo Michilli, provides construction and consulting services. The firm’s work is consistent throughout its projects, regardless of size or location. The firm follows three key commitments as it builds: constant communication with its clients, responding to challenges as they arise, and delivering the client’s needs within the client’s budget.

Michilli is affiliated with multiple construction-related organizations, including the ICSC, the AIA, NFPA, the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, the Retail Design Institute Environmental Protection Agency, the National Italian American Foundation, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). 

One of Michilli’s most prominent projects is this Google store in Chelsea, New York. It features full-height light oak paneling and columns and coordinated millwork for displaying Google devices. Bolon carpet throughout gives the space a warmer feel. There are several individual experience areas and rooms, including a one-of-a-kind suspended glass “Magic Space” with surrounding video screens.

Schimenti Construction Company

575 Lexington Ave, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Schimenti Construction Company is an industry-leading, relationship-driven construction management firm. With 25 years of experience in the industry, Schimenti Construction houses 300+ experts. The company takes a solutions-based approach, which recognizes its ability to build better for people, clients, and communities.

The LEED-certified store spans two floors and contains 6,000 square feet of retail space. The store is digitally enabled, offering shoppers a revolutionary, data-driven experience. This Nike store is the first to break barriers, featuring a gender-neutral apparel section with extended sizing.

Shawmut Design and Construction

3 East 54th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Shawmut Design and Construction is a leading construction manager in New York for 30 years. It has a diverse and dedicated team committed to better building experience for its clients. The firm is proudly 100% employee-owned, ensuring everyone has a stake in its future. Shawmut prides itself on its extensive nationwide portfolio of extremely complex and logistically challenging projects for some of the most high-profile clients in the industry. Fortune awarded Shawmut the Best Workplaces Award. One of the best construction companies in New York, it was also among the 2019 America’s Best Midsize Employers of Forbes profile.

Shawmut built the Bucherer TimeMachine on 57th St, formerly known as the Tourneau TimeMachine. The company worked on renovating the space completely, from complex structural work to the complete relocation of the staircase and the finer luxury details. The whole project has lounges, three bars, and high-tech video installations. 

Mc Gowan Builders

160 East Union Ave, East Rutherford, NJ 07073

With a team of over 60 professionals, the East Rutherford-based Mc Gowan Builders has become an industry leader characterized by its highly collaborative, team-spirited culture. It has a proud core of executives, each with over 35 years of experience. CEO Patrick McGowan founded the company after 20 years of construction experience in New York.

A renowned construction company in New York, Mc Gowan Builders handled the demolition and construction to make the Wonder Photo Shop for Fujifilm a reality in New York City. In addition to a retail offering, the Wonder Photo Shop hosts a print area, photo booth, DIY Lounge, the Cash Wrap, as well as the Lab and inventory areas where visitors can directly connect their smartphones to create prints and explore traditional services like printing and studio photography. The new space utilizes environmentally sensitive materials and contemporary design translated through custom millwork, vinyl plank flooring, Terra Mia wood wall panels, painted partitions, and a new coffee bar.

Structure Tone

330 West 34th St, New York, NY 10001

Known for its office interior buildout work in the city, Structure Tone has constructed spaces valued at over $1.8 billion, with a total area of 2.17 million square feet. Michael Neary heads the firm as president, while Eugene Peter White is its executive vice president. Together, they lead the company in working on some of the largest projects in New York City. Renowned among the top construction companies in New York, Structure Tone was featured for inclusivity efforts in an article from the New York Post. The firm employs 350 professionals in New York, all trained in a client-first mentality. Among its many accolades, Structure Tone received the ACEC Platinum Award.

With Structure Tone’s extensive showroom experience, the firm successfully constructed this Lamborghini showroom. The two-story, gallery-style venue offers guests a wide array of private rooms and meeting spaces. The team imported high-end finishes and featured Italian luxury manufacturers throughout, creating a true “Made in Italy” experience. The full-service kitchen is available to host private gatherings with trademark Italian furnishings.

L&K Partners

104 East 25th St, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10010

L&K Partners has experience covering various commercial sectors and project types ranging from interior fit-outs to new core and shell buildings. Over its 25 years of business, the firm has cemented partnerships with several globally influential companies, including 5 of the top 10 Fortune 500 financial companies and each of the top 5 technology companies worldwide. The L&K team comprises architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and cost managers, providing valuable specialization to find the smartest solution for each project.

L&K Partners’ robust retail portfolio includes its recent renovation and interior buildout of the Levi Strauss headquarters and showroom in New York City.  The 45,000 square foot space provides workspace and meeting areas for several Levi brand teams, as well as display and storage space for seasonal and sample product storage. The showroom and gallery include a private shopping suite and runway. The Levi brand is integrated throughout the space with full wall video boards, showroom displays, and creative graphics.

Reidy Contracting Group

58 W 40th St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10018

Reidy Contracting Group works with some of New York’s most well-known names to provide exceptional general contracting and construction management services, and it has been doing so for over a decade. The firm successfully handles many client needs through its extensive renovation, new construction, construction infrastructure, and refurbishment solutions. Highly competent and qualified experts staff the firm to execute in-house budgeting and estimation, purchasing, pre-construction, construction phase scheduling, quality control, value engineering, and strong partnerships with experienced subcontractors.

The firm’s expansive portfolio includes the first permanent retail space for the mattress brand Casper. The store is filled with oversized and surreal objects that create a whimsical landscape to explore the future of sleep. Reidy also constructed this retail space for CAMP with a storefront, a full kitchen, and a milk bar. The firm integrated structural steel, architectural woodwork, and HVAC.

The firm has also received several awards for its work, including the 2021 Project of the Year Award in the 25,000 to 50,000 RSF Category from CoreNet Global New York, the 2020 Award of Merit from ENR New York for the LMCC Arts Center at Governor’s Island, and 2019 Best of Year Award: Best Small Corporate Office for Soros Capital Management from Interior Design Magazine.

Vanguard Construction & Co.

350 Fifth Ave, Suite #5500, New York, NY 10118

Michael Strauss established Vanguard Construction & Co. The New York City-based firm has earned a reputation for its efforts and ability to manage complex projects throughout the city.

He has 40 years of experience overseeing complex construction projects, from high-end interiors to ground-up. His background, which encompasses serving as president of the NY AIA Center for Architecture Foundation, has been instrumental in Vanguard executing commissions.

Known among the best construction companies in New York, Vanguard renovated the women’s shoe floor of Saks Fifth Avenue. The firm provided new lighting and controls, marble floors and custom carpets, architectural metal screens, and reconfigured MEPS/FA. The team coordinated high-end mirror, metal, glass, and millwork display fixtures, upholstered seating, and loose furniture. Painted temporary walls were also maintained to appear “front-of-house” while ensuring sprinkler and security coverage for customers and staff remained through each phase.

Plaza Construction

360 Lexington Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017

Plaza Construction is a well-known construction management and general contracting firm in the United States. Since its establishment, the company has expanded into an interdisciplinary practice with regional offices.

The company is led by Peter Wu, a construction industry specialist with over 30 years of experience supervising global creative building and civil construction projects, including in the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. During the previous 12 years, Peter has been associated with the growth of the heavy civil construction sector in the US, and he has managed the company as it has completed several large projects.

Plaza’s aggregate experience spans numerous industries, and its uniqueness originates from understanding what it takes to be an owner, developer, and builder. With three decades of experience, the firm plays a vital role in constructing retail spaces such as Ferragamo USA, Inc.

Plaza renovated Ferragamo’s private showrooms, main building lobby, corporate executive offices, and elevator modernization. In addition, the complete MEP system was replaced, including the mechanical cooling tower and riser system, steam station, core bathrooms, electrical service, and fire protection systems. Connecting floors four through six is a cantilevered limestone staircase with ornamental metal railings and glass panels. 

King Rose Construction

375 East 163rd St, Bronx, NY 10451

King Rose Construction was founded in New York, and over the years, it has grown a portfolio of New York projects. King Rose is responsible for constructing many landmark projects in New York City, including the International Cosmetics & Perfumes, Inc., House of Creed’s Madison Avenue boutique, and Tourneau TimeMachine. Among the leading construction companies in New York, the firm is also strongly dedicated to sustainability, boasting an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead-Safe Certification.

Yoel Borgenicht leads King Rose’s field operations and staff development. His 21 years in the industry have molded him into a NY State Supreme Court certified expert in construction estimating. He imparts his construction know-how to King Rose’s collection of retail projects.

King Rose transformed a former bank space into the Macklowe Gallery in Manhattan. The building includes a first-floor main gallery space, a mezzanine library, and a lower-level showroom for their extended collection of decorative arts pieces sought by private collectors and museums from around the globe. In the employee-only spaces of the gallery, King Rose built a large open office, a kitchen/break room, a photo studio, a mailroom, and additional storage spaces.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of contractors, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the retail contractors in the New York City area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.