Quick Answer
Retail, restaurant and hospitality brands are still expanding. Long-lead items and permitting still set the pace for most builds. Experiential and lifestyle brands are driving much of the growth in major markets. If you plan to open in 2027, the planning window starts now.
Every month, The CORCON 3 pulls together three things worth knowing for retail, restaurant and hospitality brands planning their next locations: a market signal, a lesson from the field and a look at who is driving growth. Here is what we are watching heading into 2027.
01 — Market Signal
Yes. Retail, restaurant and hospitality brands kept opening new locations through 2026, and many are already setting 2027 targets.
The brands moving fastest have their site selection, design and contractor lined up before leases are signed. When good locations open up, they are ready to build.
02 — From the Field
Long-lead items and permitting. Storefront systems, custom millwork, specialty lighting, kitchen equipment and electrical gear can take months to arrive. Permit review times vary widely from city to city.
Projects that order long-lead items early and submit permits on time are the ones that open on schedule. For a deeper look, see the top five things that slow down a construction schedule.
Our rule of thumb: bring your general contractor in before design is final, so pricing and lead times shape the plan instead of surprising it.
03 — Growth Watch
Experiential and lifestyle brands. Cafés, fitness studios, entertainment concepts and design-led retail are winning foot traffic by giving people a reason to visit in person.
These spaces depend on finish quality, lighting and atmosphere, which raises the bar for construction. Brand consistency across every location matters as much as speed.
Working back from an opening date, most brands need six to nine months for design, permitting, procurement and construction.
6–9
Months — Typical Planning Window
Fall 2026
Start Planning for Spring–Summer 2027
A spring or summer 2027 opening means planning should start this fall. Working back from a fixed date is the core of CORCON's approach to schedule management.
When should I start planning a 2027 store opening? Six to nine months before your target date, earlier for ground-up builds or complex permitting markets.
What are long-lead items in commercial construction? Materials and equipment with long order times, such as storefront glass, custom millwork, kitchen equipment and electrical switchgear.
Why bring in a general contractor early? Early pricing and lead-time input keeps the design within budget and protects the schedule.
CORCON is a national commercial general contractor headquartered in Garden City, New York, working across 27 states and building retail, restaurant, and hospitality environments for brands that can't afford to miss a date. Founded in 1987. Builders of Distinction.
If your 2027 openings are on the calendar, the best time to bring in your contractor is now. Contact CORCON.