Palm Beach County, Florida
Restaurant Construction Contractor
Palm Beach County, FL
Restaurant construction in South Florida today runs $250–$350 per sq ft — and that range exists for a reason. We've built for brands including Starbucks, Wawa, Chick-fil-A, Culver's, and independent concepts across Palm Beach County. We know how restaurant projects actually move.
Get a Restaurant Build-Out QuoteRestaurant Construction Across Palm Beach County
Restaurant build-outs are the most coordination-heavy commercial projects we deal with — and that's the reality of the work, not an exaggeration. In a 2,500 sq ft space you're simultaneously managing kitchen equipment vendors, hood installers, fire suppression, refrigeration, plumbing, gas, electrical, HVAC, framing, health department requirements, grease systems, flooring, millwork, and ownership decisions — all affecting each other in real time. One small issue can quietly derail five other trades before anyone realizes it.
One thing people outside construction rarely understand: restaurants are built around kitchen flow. Move the kitchen and you basically move the building. We've experienced this on multiple projects — second-generation restaurant spaces that looked simple on paper until the kitchen layout shifted, and suddenly plumbing locations, hood alignments, and electrical loads all changed simultaneously. Restaurant projects are also like opening walls in an old house: you never fully know what a previous tenant did until demo begins. What matters is how fast you respond when those surprises surface.
We've built projects connected to concepts including Starbucks, Wawa, Arby's, Chick-fil-A, Culver's, Hooks Fish & Chicken, Palm Beach Hot Chicken, Lake Park Diner, Toro Mambo, and others. Every one had its own conditions and its own timeline pressure. What they all shared: opening day was real and non-negotiable. Restaurant construction today in South Florida runs $250–$350 per sq ft depending on kitchen complexity and infrastructure. Anyone pricing a restaurant without plans is guessing — and in this business, guessing is expensive.
Unincorporated Palm Beach County — areas outside any municipality — permits through the Palm Beach County Building Division, which operates separately from any city building department. This covers significant commercial territory including corridors along Military Trail, Southern Boulevard, Okeechobee Boulevard, and numerous commercial parks throughout the western and central parts of the county. The county's review process and inspection scheduling work differently than municipal departments. We've worked both county and municipal projects and understand the distinctions.
What's Included in Our Restaurant Build-Outs
Commercial Kitchen
Full back-of-house construction: equipment layout, floor drains, stainless prep areas, walk-in cooler rough-in, and all kitchen MEP designed for your concept.
Hood & Fire Suppression
Type I and Type II commercial kitchen hoods with fire suppression — coordinated with mechanical engineers and inspected by the local AHJ.
Grease Interceptors
Grease trap installation sized to the municipality's utility requirements — permitted and inspected before any kitchen plumbing proceeds.
Dining Room & Bar
Front-of-house framing, flooring, ceilings, millwork, bar tops, booth structures, lighting, and finishes that reflect your brand and concept.
ADA & Restrooms
ADA-compliant restroom build-outs, accessible entrances, and counter heights meeting Florida Building Code requirements countywide.
Health Dept & CO
We coordinate with the Palm Beach County Health Department and manage all final inspections through CO — so you open on schedule.
Why Choose Pajaziti & Associates for Restaurant Construction in Palm Beach County
We understand that every week a restaurant isn't open is money bleeding directly out of the owner's pocket. We understand that a hood issue delays fire suppression, which delays inspections, which delays opening — and that domino effect costs more than the hood itself. We understand the difference between a first-time restaurant owner who needs guidance and a franchise operator on their fifth location who needs execution. And we understand the local permit process well enough to keep projects moving through it without unnecessary delays. One more thing: if you haven't signed your lease yet, talk to us before you do. Negotiating free rent during permit and build-out time can save more money than negotiating the construction price afterward.
Restaurant Project in Palm Beach County?
Tell us your city, space, concept, and timeline. We'll give you straight numbers on scope and schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our construction services in this area.
What does restaurant construction include?
Full restaurant construction includes kitchen build-out (hood and exhaust system, grease trap installation, commercial equipment rough-in, fire suppression), front-of-house framing and finishes, bar construction, ADA-compliant restrooms, HVAC zoning, electrical service for kitchen equipment, and all permits through health department CO and building CO. We coordinate with your kitchen equipment vendor throughout the rough-in phase.
Do you handle health department approvals for restaurants?
Yes. Restaurant construction in Palm Beach County requires both a building permit through the local city or county building department and a food service establishment permit through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Palm Beach County Health Department. We coordinate both permit tracks simultaneously and build to the standards required for health department approval.
How long does restaurant construction take in Palm Beach County?
A restaurant tenant improvement in an existing shell space typically takes 10–16 weeks from permit issuance to Certificate of Occupancy, depending on kitchen complexity and space size. Full-service restaurants with complex kitchen builds and bar construction run toward the longer end. Permitting typically adds 8–12 weeks before construction begins.
Do you build both fast-casual and full-service restaurant concepts?
Yes. We build fast-casual, quick-service, full-service, and bar/lounge concepts throughout Palm Beach County. Each restaurant type has different kitchen infrastructure requirements — hood sizing, grease trap capacity, equipment rough-in layout, and ventilation design — and we coordinate those specifics with your kitchen designer and equipment vendor from the start of the project.