Flashback Friday | Cheddars Restaurant
This Flashback Friday project goes back to December of 1988, when a kitchen fire left a Cheddar’s Restaurant in Kentwood, MI needing a full rebuild. The fire didn’t just damage finishes, it tore through the cedar planking inside and burned so hot it began to compromise the structural steel the building was built around.
A Look Back at a Commercial Construction Rebuild in West Michigan
At the time, Cheddar’s was a growing brand, and this project became part of an early working relationship that extended beyond a single location.
That trust, and the opportunity to continue working together, was built through projects just like this one.
A job like this comes down to more than getting a building back up. It takes steady coordination, clear communication, and a commitment to seeing things through the right way - from the first steps to the final details.
That’s what stands out when looking back.
The work itself.
The consistency behind it.
The pride in doing it well.
Projects like this are part of the reason we operate the way we do today. They helped shape the standards we hold and the expectations we bring to every job.
That initial project also led to continued work with the Cheddar’s brand, including the construction of three additional locations in the Grand Rapids area, further strengthening a relationship built on trust and consistency.
Shortly after the completion of this rebuild, another unfortunate trash fire brought us back for round two. This time, extensive smoke damage was the primary issue.
Over the years, the brand itself has evolved as well, revamped in the early 2000s and eventually reintroduced in 2015 as Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. While the original Kentwood location is no longer there, the closest restaurant today can be found in Lansing.
A lot has changed since then.
But the way we approach our work hasn’t.
