Santa Monica, renowned for its pristine beaches, upscale apartments, and vibrant restaurant scene, attracts both locals and visitors from across the United States. The city’s dynamic atmosphere has sparked the interest of many business owners seeking to establish their presence in this lively community.
For businesses in search of a contractor in Santa Monica, the options are plentiful, potentially overwhelming. To streamline the decision-making process, our team has compiled a guide featuring the best retail contractors in Santa Monica. Each firm included in this list has been selected for its expertise, extensive experience, and proven track record in retail construction.
Taslimi Construction
1805 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Founded in 1985, Taslimi Construction is a full-service construction company serving diverse clientele and diverse industries throughout Southern California. Since its inception, the firm has produced countless exceptional projects, particularly in the commercial, retail, entertainment, hospitality, education, and historical financial sectors. The general contractor also provides construction solutions for custom homes, historical restoration projects, and sustainable building. Regardless of the project type, the firm’s team of experts is experienced in all types of building methods, using advanced technologies and up-to-date industry tools.
Taslimi Construction is dedicated to delivering high-quality solutions and processes for clients, focusing on preconstruction, project management, construction, and procurement. As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the firm is committed to practicing environmentally friendly building practices and using sustainable materials. One notable project that employed such methods is the Haworth retail store in Santa Monica. For this client, the firm built a 17,000 square-foot store that is clean, modern, and elegant.
Letter Four
12822 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Letter Four is a well-respected residential and commercial contractor that specializes in general contracting, design-build, and architectural design services. From simple renovations to full-scale construction projects, the firm is equipped with the latest tools, best industry practices, and top-grade materials to ensure every project exceeds client expectations. With an experienced team of designers, planners, and builders, the company provides complete building solutions for a diverse clientele. Its services include design, planning, permitting, engineering, and construction, and it personalizes each process to fit the client’s unique needs.
As one of the top design and construction firms in Los Angeles, Letter Four is passionate about merging architecture with construction to create exceptional retail spaces that are original, feasible, and profitable. Among its projects is the Frame Denim in Santa Monica, whose excellence helped contribute to the firm’s strong reputation. For this retail store, Letter Four was tasked with building a clean, open, and modern space using high-class materials. The result is a premium and sophisticated store that is cherished by the client.
Michilli Inc.
8607 Venice Blvd, Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA 90034
For a quarter-century, Michilli Inc. has been a trusted provider of top-tier construction and consulting services spanning Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. Over this time, the company has delivered excellence across more than 1 million square feet of commercial, retail, and residential projects, showcasing its prowess in diverse industries and project scopes. Specializing in custom homes, showrooms, offices, and luxury retail spaces, Michilli’s portfolio underscores its versatility and expertise.
At the helm is founder Angelo Michilli, whose outstanding leadership and management skills have been instrumental in the firm’s success. Under his guidance, Michilli Inc. has garnered various industry affiliations, including the Retail Design Institute, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy. Angelo is also recognized as a LEED Green Associate and a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, underscoring his commitment to sustainable building practices.
Among its notable projects is the Muji store in Santa Monica, the largest of its kind on the West Coast. This three-story structure impeccably embodies Muji’s minimalist design ethos, standing as a testament to Michilli’s ability to bring clients’ visions to life.
Ramland Construction
1650 Westwood Blvd., Suite #200, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Founded in 1999, Ramland Construction is a full-service construction company serving clients across Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Newport Beach. The general contractor has nearly 15 years of experience working on diverse aspects of construction, which has allowed it to develop a reputation as a go-to company for commercial projects in the region. Indeed, most of its past projects have been retail stores, offices, cafes, restaurants, and hotels, located all throughout California. With a wide network of subcontractors, the firm has also produced numerous successful projects in New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago.
Since its inception, Ramland Construction has strived to build long-lasting relationships with its clients, earning high praise for its exceptional builds. One of these significant clients is Lululemon Athletica. Ramland Construction took on the role of building the first Lululemon store in the U.S., located in Santa Monica. The firm also built the Lululemon branches in Newport Beach and Fashion Island.
W.E. O’Neil Construction
909 N. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite #400, El Segundo, CA 90245
W.E. O’Neil Construction is a premier construction firm based in El Segundo. Founded in 1925, the highly experienced firm has been providing superior-quality general contracting services for nearly a century, establishing itself as one of the industry leaders throughout the state of California. In this time, the firm has built projects across 29 states, through its 12 offices located throughout the U.S.
With an annual revenue of 1.2 billion dollars, W.E. O’Neil Construction is a well-established construction company and is recognized as one of the top contractors in the nation. It has in-depth experience in various industries and project types, including retail, office, healthcare, hospitality, education, entertainment, and aviation. The company also serves residential clients through multi-family and senior living projects. The ArcLight Theater in Santa Monica is one of the firm’s notable retail projects in the Los Angeles area. For this project, the company took on the challenge of building a sustainable movie theater in Santa Monica Place Shopping Center, which earned the project a LEED Gold Certification.
PR Construction
1995 N. Batavia St., Orange, CA 92865
Orange County-based PR Construction is a comprehensive general contractor specializing in construction, design-build, facility development, and maintenance services. Since 1993, the company has delivered countless high-quality building, renovation, and remodeling solutions for clients in the retail, hospitality, educational, industrial, and multi-family sectors. The company has worked with many of the top retail brands, including Starbucks, Carl’s Jr., Kentucky Fried Chicken, and 7-11. Its work on the 99 Ranch Market in Irvine is also notable, as the firm did a complete remodel of the iconic grocery store.
Regardless of the project type, PR Construction is known to use the best-in-class management tools, making it one of the most sought-after general contractors in the region. Its services are categorized into preconstruction, construction, and post-construction, making it a one-stop-shop for all construction needs. It offers these services to local and regional clients across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Washington.
MODAA Construction
15260 Ventura Blvd., Suite #1200-33, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Since its establishment in 2008, MODAA Construction has been providing commercial clients with exceptional-quality construction services throughout Los Angeles. Over the years, the firm has established itself as one of the most trusted retail contractors in the region. Its projects have earned the attention of the media and have been featured in various publications, including Architectural Digest, The L.A. Times, and Interior Design Magazine.
MODAA Construction has worked with many leading architects, designers, engineers, and vendors in California. It has also acquired memberships with the AIA and the USGBC, showcasing its dedication to excellence and to employing sustainable building practices. The firm itself, however, is a collaborative and creative team of professional builders with experience in diverse types of build-outs. Whether a residential or commercial project, the team is equipped to manage minor to major renovations, and simple to complex projects. A particularly notable project of the company is the RtA flagship store in Los Angeles, in which the firm was tasked with building a luxury retail shop featuring a minimalist design.
RJC Builders, Inc.
3017 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite #303, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Built in 1988, RJC Builders is an established and trusted construction firm in Santa Monica that offers a full scope of building services. For 35 years, the company has delivered a broad range of projects across Orange County and Los Angeles, encompassing all scopes, sizes, and styles. Focusing on preconstruction, construction, and post construction services, the firm consistently provides clients with meticulous craftsmanship and superior customer service. It also partners with the top designers, architects, and engineers in the state, equipping the firm to handle even the most challenging of structures.
In recognition of its impressive projects, RJC Builders has received plenty of attention from the press, with features in Architectural Digest, The L.A. Times, and Southern California Living. One of the firm’s most significant projects is the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills, in which it was tasked with providing an addition to the existing gallery. The contractor also restored the roof structure, resulting in a sophisticated look that complemented the elegant, clean, and open interior of the space.
