From Retail to Restaurants
The Ganaway Contracting story
When walking into any restaurant, diners’ senses are often inundated by the smells of food being prepared, the clank and clatter of knives and forks, the dull hum of people talking. But seldom does one pay attention to the building itself—the flooring, the wall colors, the lights. Who built the structure? Why did they choose those colors? How long has it been here?
And yet retail establishments and restaurants—from fast fashion to fast food—would fail without the engineering professionals who have a passion for building the structures we interact with every day. When it comes to the myriad of dining and retail spaces built by Ganaway Contracting Co., many would argue that the company’s contributions to the consumer marketplace are second to none.
Operating out of Alpharetta, Ga., Ganaway Contracting is a full-service general contractor specializing in restaurant and retail construction throughout the southeast. The company has built everything from Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses to Starbucks. Its project portfolio displays a veritable “who’s who” of American dining and retail: Krispy Kreme, Denny’s, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Bojangles’, Applebee’s, IHOP, Verizon, Dollar Tree and Wachovia (now Wells Fargo), to name a few.
But how does a company have the expertise to manage and build everything from high-class restaurants to large commercial buildings?
It begins with a business that runs like a James Beard-award winning kitchen, with great leaders who value customer relationships, hard work and doing what’s right.
Success Begins with a Great Team …
Ganaway Contracting was founded in 1974 by Nick Ganaway, who specialized in new and remodel construction of fast-food restaurants and other light commercial projects throughout a dozen Southeastern states. Nick sold the firm in 1999 to Robert D. Naderhoff who continued the company’s success and in 2016 sold the company to the present owner Stephen Richardson and partner Bethany Beekman.
“I would like to think our success comes from understanding the goals and objectives of each project and client individually. We take great pride in accepting our clients’ trust and confidence—we really see ourselves as the company that understands our clients’ needs,” says Richardson, who has 15 years of project management experience in construction. “I began my construction career out of college with a company that focused on restaurants. I enjoy the fast-paced schedules, challenges and rewards. There are many opportunities out there if you do it correctly.”
Scott Alligood, Vice President of Construction, started in construction in 1983 as a subcontractor. “The fast-paced schedule and coordination was both challenging and exciting. I liked it then and I like it today. I attribute both my personal and professional successes to two policies: never burn bridges, and build relationships—not buildings. Ganaway Contracting is definitely doing something right and I enjoy being a part of it.”
Naderhoff, who is now the company’s Chairman, has more than 40 years’ experience in executive management, restaurant development and the general contracting industry. As Ganaway Contracting’s former President and CEO, he understands the importance of taking a hands-on approach to the business, clients and employees while creating a team-empowered environment that lends itself to productivity and client satisfaction.
… Adept at Asking the Right Questions
Beekman, who joined the company as an entry-level employee, says she’s seen a lot of changes in the industry over the last 15 years. She affirms, “All my experiences have led me to always ask more questions, especially of our subcontractors. ‘Have you turned in all the required paperwork? Do you have access to internet services on site? Is there anything that can hinder your progress?’ ”
“We try to help all of our subcontractors with their paperwork to get their payments to them as quickly as possible,” she adds. “I think it’s fair to say that the industry is not known for having computer-savvy people, so we fill in the gap. We help obtain insurance certificates and lien waivers from suppliers and make phone calls on behalf of the subcontractors, who are busy in the field doing the construction work and who may not have an office staff to help them with paperwork.”
The company is also known for keeping a critical eye on project schedules and deadlines, says Beekman. “I don’t think I can overstate the value we place on schedules. We live and die by making sure we meet every deadline, even if that means working around the clock to get a project done.”
Richardson adds that it is often the little things that lead to a positive outcome. “We spend a lot of time getting information on our clients and their expectations,” he says, and notes that asking the right questions can deepen one’s understanding of a client’s goals. “It’s too easy to look at the project plans and say, ‘OK, we understand the deadline is March’ and leave it there. It’s better to understand that the project needs to be done in March because the restaurant is launching a new menu and wants the location to take the lead. If you know more than the basic information, you can provide more than basic general contractor services.”
“Any challenge can be overcome,” says Alligood, “with honesty, a willingness to work hard and knowing when to compromise or concede, but most importantly, knowing what your customer wants. Not just now but in the long term.”
Work Hard and Be Ethical
From an outsider’s perspective, Ganaway Contracting seems to run like a professional kitchen. When beginning a new project, the first order of business is akin to the French culinary stage of prep work known as “mise en place,” where all the right ingredients are organized. Just like sous chefs, the subcontractors work on their pieces individually and report to the project manager, or head chef, who orchestrates the project to perfection while providing the client with daily updates.
“We work almost exclusively with subcontractors that we have a long history with,” says Richardson. “They know our work habits and can anticipate our needs.” For this general contractor, the all-important main course consists of a plate full of hard work…with a side of ethics.
“I know that everyone says, ‘they do right by the customers,’ ” says Richardson. “But we believe that what we say matters—it’s our moral imperative to work hard and be ethical.” Most professionals understand that hard work comes with the job, but what does “being ethical” mean in construction? “The last thing we do is overpromise and underdeliver,” says Beekman. “We keep in near constant communication with our clients—for both the positive and negative results. If something goes wrong—even if it’s minor—we want the client to hear it from us first.”
Richardson adds that a sense of urgency has kept his clients—the majority of whom have been using Ganaway Contracting for two decades—happy. “Our customer service approach is to always have the customer’s best interest in mind while delivering a quality building for a reasonable price and standing by our work,” he says. “We treat people the way we would want to be treated. In everything we do, we are honest and fair—not only to our clients, but to our peers and coworkers.”
So, what can we learn from Ganaway Contracting? That hard work, coupled with a heightened approach to project organization and a client-first perspective, can lead to amazing success. “We always want to do what is best for our clients and truly want our clients to be satisfied—and that will drive our business further,” says Richardson.