In communities across the United States, storefronts are an aesthetically pleasing alternative to big box-style stores and enclosed shopping malls. Storefront shops bring us back to the past, when local commerce operated up and down Main Street in small towns and unique shops were part of cities’ individual characters.
As a commercial building owner, your challenge is to create storefronts that do not just serve their occupants’ business needs, but attract the clientèle that keeps them in business. An experienced, creative builder can help you mesh these needs into a cohesive storefront design that fits your budget and your goals for the building.
The primary goal of your storefront design is to attract potential customers. Large windows that show what you or your tenants have for sale, a modern, inviting exterior, and attractive landscaping are all important parts of creating an attractive storefront design.
You need to design the storefront to be ADA compliant. This means it is accessible to individuals with disabilities as determined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. ADA compliance includes, but is not limited to, building doors that are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs and loop-style door handles that do not require any type of grabbing or squeezing to use.
In addition to being ADA compliant, the store should be safe for the employees and customers who will eventually fill it. Think about this when you design the building’s electrical system, determine its lighting placements, and create signs and displays.
If you plan to occupy your commercial storefront, design the building to fit your company’s needs. If you plan on renting out one or more storefronts in the building, you need to attract tenants before you can attract customers. Make the store interiors into blank spaces prospective tenants can easily imagine their shops occupying. One way to do this is to create white box build-outs, minimally designed, ready-to-occupy commercial spaces that your tenants can customize to suit their needs. Another option is to create gray boxes, unfinished spaces that allow long-term tenants greater control to customize to their liking. With spaces like this, you can negotiate the costs of completing their interiors with the tenants who lease them.
When you are updating an existing building instead of working with new construction, you can use design to bring it up to code while preserving the building’s original character. Our team can work with you to complete any level of renovation for an outdated storefront, from minor cosmetic upgrades to total rehab jobs that make older buildings feel brand new.
Our team of construction professionals at Doppler Construction, Inc. can work with you to design and build an attractive, functional commercial storefront. Contact us today to set up your free consultation with our team. We can work with you to refine your ideas into a practical, affordable construction plan.
If you have questions or would like a free estimate we’d love to hear from you. Call us today at 219-661-1011 to see what Doppler Construction can do for you and your family.
