10 Common Pitfalls in Restaurant Build-Outs | Modern Restaurant Management | The Business of Eating & Restaurant Management News

Opening a new restaurant is exciting. When you find a space that’s perfect, you want to jump in and get moving on the build-out. However, there are many potential issues to keep in mind to prevent costly headaches, or worse, lawsuits. Below are ten potential pitfalls that could lead to litigation and delay that grand opening.

Pitfall #1: Signing a lease without negotiating the build-out terms. Your restaurant lease is one of the most important contracts needed to start your business. Before signing anything, you must make sure you can get the restaurant build-out you want. There are many factors to consider. Here are just a few:

Will you or your landlord be responsible for the build-out? Does your dream design plan include demolishing and creating new walls? Will the build-out affect the utilities of other building tenants? Will the landlord even permit your build-out plan? Will renovations need to be removed if the lease is terminated early by you or the…

Deanna L. Koestel

Deanna L. Koestel is a commercial litigator for Norris McLaughlin, where she focuses on complex commercial and construction litigation, shareholder disputes, and general business law matters in New Jersey and New York. She routinely represents residential and commercial property and business owners, contractors and subcontractors, suppliers, and manufacturers in construction contract issues. Koestel brings a practical and business savvy approach to the law, serving as general “outside counsel” for several businesses – including restaurants and other service businesses related to the food and beverage industry. In this capacity, she provides advice and strategy to these businesses and drafts their business agreements to manage their legal needs and avoid or streamline any future litigation risk.

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Deanna L. Koestel