Retail Store Construction & Renovation in Toronto

1BENMU prepares shop drawings in-house for every fixture, display wall and millwork piece on a retail project, drawn to the actual dimensions of your unit rather than a generic template. Drawings are checked against the real space, including columns, outlets and ceiling height, before any material is cut.

Samples and drawings are approved before fabrication begins at our Scarborough shop, so there are no surprises when fixtures reach the sales floor. This keeps checkout counters, shelving and feature walls consistent with the layout and finishes you signed off on.

Retail store construction and renovation costs in Toronto range from approximately $60 to $300+ per square foot. A 1,500 sq. ft. retail store, for example, could represent an investment of roughly $125,000 to $250,000+, depending on the scope and existing conditions.

Lighter retail store renovations and refreshes can fall toward the lower end of that range, while complete build-outs with elaborate storefronts, new partitions and ceilings, specialty lighting or a full custom fixture package tend to fall toward the middle to upper part of the range. High-end and luxury boutiques with premium finishes and extensive custom millwork sit at the very top.

The cost depends on the size of the space, how much of the interior is being reworked, the level of custom fixture and millwork detail, the existing condition of the property, and how much of the project involves construction versus custom millwork. Refreshing a checkout and a few display walls costs far less than a complete retail store build-out with new partitions, ceilings, flooring and a stockroom. Larger spaces can also have a lower cost per square foot because fixed retail construction costs are spread across more floor area.

1BENMU provides an estimate after the initial site review, with construction and custom millwork broken out separately, so you can see where the project costs are going before committing to the work.

Having one team responsible for construction and custom millwork keeps the store design, product displays and finished interior connected throughout the project. Display walls, shelving, checkout counters and feature pieces are coordinated with framing, lighting, electrical and finishes rather than being fitted into the space afterward.

It also allows millwork fabrication to move forward at our Scarborough shop while construction progresses on site. One project manager coordinates both sides, reducing handoffs and keeping the complete store moving toward the same opening date.

Yes, 1BENMU completes retail store renovation, construction and custom millwork projects across Toronto, the GTA and surrounding areas of Southern Ontario, including:

Greater Toronto Area (primary service areas)

• Ajax
• Aurora
• Brampton
• East York
• Etobicoke
• Markham
• Milton
• Mississauga
• Newmarket
• North York
• Oakville
• Oshawa
• Pickering
• Richmond Hill
• Scarborough
• Thornhill
• Vaughan
• Woodbridge

Southern Ontario (depending on the project)

• Barrie
• Bolton
• Burlington
• Collingwood
• Georgetown
• Guelph
• Hamilton
• Innisfil
• Orangeville
• Orillia
• Keswick
• King City
• Kitchener
• Midland
• Waterloo

Yes. 1BENMU works directly with architects and interior designers to turn the approved retail concept into a buildable space. We coordinate construction, custom fixtures and millwork with their drawings and brand direction, resolving dimensions, materials and site conditions before fabrication and installation.

If you do not already have a designer, our team can also help develop the store layout, product display areas, fixture placement, checkout and other functional requirements around your space and merchandise.

Based on our completed retail and related commercial projects, a retail store renovation typically takes 4–8 weeks of on-site construction, depending on the size, existing condition and scope of the project.

A smaller renovation focused on finishes, the sales floor, cash desk area or limited millwork may take 2–4 weeks, while a complete retail store build-out involving storefront changes, fitting rooms, a stockroom, new electrical and lighting, HVAC, washrooms and extensive millwork can take 2–4 months.

For example, an average-sized fashion boutique or gift shop with a sales floor, cash desk, fitting rooms and a stockroom may take around 4–6 weeks of construction. A jewellery store, eyewear store, cosmetics store or flagship retail location with extensive custom display fixtures may take around 8–12 weeks when much of the existing infrastructure can be retained. Projects involving storefront changes, new washrooms, major lighting, electrical or other building-system changes can extend beyond that range.

For projects starting before construction drawings and permits are complete, design development, architectural and engineering drawings, permits and pre-construction typically add 1–3 months before construction begins.

What affects the schedule:

• Starting condition: Renovating an existing store is different from converting an office, restaurant or unfinished shell into a retail store.
• Design stage: We can work from completed architectural drawings or coordinate the design, drawings and required documentation with our architectural partners.
• Permits and approvals: When permits, landlord approvals or municipal approvals are required, we account for them before establishing the construction start date rather than treating approval time as part of the construction schedule.
• Project scope: Storefront changes, fitting rooms, stockrooms, lighting, HVAC, electrical, accessibility work and structural changes all affect how much work needs to happen on site.
• Equipment and materials: Owner-supplied items such as signage, point-of-sale and security systems, along with specialty finishes and other long-lead materials, can affect the schedule depending on availability and installation requirements.
• Custom millwork: The amount and complexity of custom millwork affect the schedule, but our fully equipped in-house millwork shop, with CNC routers, edge banders, a spray booth and more, gives us the capacity to produce display fixtures, shelving, cash desks, display walls and other millwork efficiently while renovation work progresses on site, instead of waiting for construction to finish.

Yes. 1BENMU partners with experienced architects to handle the drawings, documentation and approvals required for retail store renovations and build-outs. Commercial retail renovations must comply with the Ontario Building Code (OBC), applicable municipal fire and safety requirements, and accessibility requirements.

Architectural and engineering coordination may be required when changing the store layout, building a sales floor, fitting rooms and a storage area, adding or moving partitions, changing ceilings and lighting, upgrading electrical, reworking washrooms, or converting a unit into a store. Our team coordinates the required architectural drawings, professional stamps, and mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire and life-safety, and accessibility requirements.

As for permits, requirements depend on the scope of work. Painting, flooring and minor millwork may not require a building permit, while partitions, plumbing, storefront modifications, sprinklers, washrooms, a change of use and similar work commonly do.

1BENMU identifies permit requirements during the design stage and coordinates submissions and required inspections, so the project is properly documented and approved before and during construction.

A dedicated project manager owns your retail renovation from the first call through handover, so you always know who to call and where the project stands. That PM is supported by AI-driven project tracking and management software that flags schedule and site issues early, rather than after they cause delays.

Because construction, fixtures and millwork are planned and tracked as one project instead of separate trades, conflicts between the build-out and fixture installation get caught before they hit the sales floor. You get regular updates on schedule and progress instead of chasing separate contractors for status.

1BENMU specializes in boutique, specialty and experience-driven retail spaces where the interior, product presentation and brand experience are an important part of the business. Projects can include complete store construction and renovation or custom millwork and fixture fabrication for an existing space.

We work with:

• Fashion and apparel boutiques
• Jewelry and accessory stores
• Beauty and cosmetics stores
• Specialty and lifestyle retailers
• Home décor and design stores
• Showrooms and product galleries
• Electronics and technology stores
• Health and wellness retailers
• Pop-up shops and branded retail concepts
• Mall and street-front boutiques

Each store is planned around its products, brand and customer experience, from the storefront and first impression through product displays, fitting areas and checkout.

Yes. Columns, angled walls, narrow storefronts, limited floor area and other existing conditions do not have to become wasted retail space. 1BENMU designs custom displays, shelving, checkout counters and feature millwork around the actual dimensions of the unit.

This is particularly useful for boutique and specialty stores where every part of a smaller sales floor needs to contribute to product presentation or the customer experience. Each piece is detailed through shop drawings and fabricated at our Scarborough shop for the space where it will be installed.

1BENMU handles complete retail renovations, from permitting and construction through fixtures and final walkthrough, or custom millwork on its own if that is what your project needs. A full build-out covers the sales floor, fitting rooms, checkout and stockroom, while a millwork-only scope covers display fixtures, checkout counters or feature walls built at our Scarborough shop.

Tell us the scope of your project and we size the team and schedule around it. Either way, the same in-house shop drawing and fabrication process applies, so millwork ordered on its own still fits the space as precisely as it would on a full renovation.