Restaurant Renovation Contractor in NYC & Westchester
Dacaj Construction is a licensed general contractor and restaurant renovation contractor serving NYC and Westchester. We handle everything from full ground-up restaurant construction to renovations of existing spaces. In fact, we’ve built out hot pot restaurants, Korean BBQ concepts, and coffee and bagel shops across the region. Along the way, we manage kitchen line coordination, ventilation, and health department requirements. As a result, you can open on schedule and stay open once you do.
Restaurant Construction & Buildout Services
- Full restaurant buildouts and ground-up construction
- Existing restaurant renovation and remodeling
- Commercial kitchen and ventilation coordination
- Health department (DOH) and Fire Department (FDNY) coordination
- ADA-compliant dining room, restroom, and entrance upgrades
- DOB permit filing and expediting
- Phased and after-hours construction to minimize lost revenue for operating restaurants
Whether you’re opening a new restaurant, café, or bagel shop, or renovating a space that’s already operating, we build a schedule around your business. In other words, we work around you, not the other way around.
Restaurant Renovation Experience
Restaurant construction is one of our core specialties. Recent projects include:
- Spring Shabu-Shabu — full restaurant buildout in Westbury, NY
- KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot — 310 West 38th Street, New York, NY
- Multiple coffee shop and bagel shop buildouts and renovations across NYC and Westchester
These projects share the same challenges every restaurant owner faces: tight timelines, kitchen equipment coordination, health department sign-off, and the pressure to open on a firm date. However, we manage all of it under one contract. That means a single point of contact from permit filing through final inspection.
Why Restaurant Owners Choose Dacaj Construction
Restaurant construction has less room for error than almost any other commercial build type. A delayed opening costs real revenue. Meanwhile, a failed health or fire inspection can shut a new location down before it even opens. Because of this, we plan around those risks from day one. For example, we coordinate kitchen equipment vendors and ventilation early, file permits correctly the first time, and build inspections into the schedule instead of treating them as an afterthought. In addition, for restaurants renovating in place, we sequence work in phases and after hours. This way, the dining room can keep serving customers through construction wherever possible.
Service Area
We provide restaurant construction and renovation services throughout New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens) and Westchester County, including Westbury and greater Nassau County.
Restaurant Renovation FAQ
How much does a restaurant renovation cost in NYC?
Restaurant construction costs vary widely based on square footage, kitchen equipment, and project scope. For example, most NYC restaurant projects range from $150,000 for a smaller café or bagel shop renovation to $500,000 or more for a full-scale buildout with a new commercial kitchen. Because every project is different, we provide a detailed line-item estimate after an on-site walkthrough.
How long does a restaurant buildout take?
A full restaurant buildout typically takes three to six months from permit approval to opening. The timeline depends on kitchen complexity and the scope of MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) work. However, renovations of existing operating restaurants can often be completed faster using phased or after-hours construction.
Do I need a permit to renovate a restaurant in NYC?
Yes. Restaurant construction in NYC typically requires DOB permits. Depending on scope, it may also require sign-off from the Department of Health and FDNY. Fortunately, we handle permit filing and expediting as part of every project.
Can you build out a restaurant while it stays open?
In many cases, yes. We sequence work in phases and schedule noisy or disruptive tasks after hours. As a result, operating restaurants can continue serving customers through as much of the renovation as possible.
Planning a restaurant, café, or bagel shop project? See our commercial and office renovation services, or schedule a consultation to discuss your restaurant construction timeline and budget.
Read the full Spring Shabu-Shabu case study for a detailed look at converting a seafood restaurant into a modern hot pot destination.