What is your typical bid turnaround?

Seven to ten days for most commercial tenant improvement projects in the Phoenix metro. We respond to new project inquiries within one business day.

What kinds of commercial projects does SRC build?

Restaurant build-outs, retail tenant improvements, medical and dental offices, fitness and wellness, hospitality, office TI, ground-up shells, franchise rollouts, and multi-site programs.

Phoenix and the surrounding Arizona metro: Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, and Litchfield Park.

Is SRC licensed and bonded?

Yes. Southwest Retail Construction, LLC holds Arizona ROC license #340122 and is fully licensed and bonded in Arizona.

SRC is owner-operated by co-founders Dustin Fahey (President) and Kevin Fahey (CEO). Clients work directly with the principals on every project — not a business-development lead who disappears after signing.

Do you work with franchisees and multi-site brands?

Yes. A significant share of our portfolio is franchise and multi-unit work, including MilkShake Factory, F45 Training, FS8 Pilates and Yoga, Face Foundrié, Juice It Up!, Uptown Cheapskate, and Reset Mind & Body. We're set up to deliver consistent brand standards across multi-site rollouts.

What project sizes do you typically take on?

Our delivered commercial work ranges from roughly 900 square feet (small-format Quick Service Restaurant (QSR)) to 14,000+ square feet (multi-story office conversion). We scope both tenant improvements and ground-up shells.

Can you work in second-generation spaces with an existing tenant build-out?

Yes. A large portion of our work is second-generation TI — full or partial demolition of a previous tenant's improvements followed by a complete new build-out for the incoming brand.

How do you handle change orders and cost surprises?

Transparently. We operate with open books, line-item estimates with documented assumptions, and weekly owner briefings. If something moves on schedule or budget, you hear it from us first — with a plan.

Do you handle permitting?

Yes. Permitting is included in project management. We coordinate submittals, plan review responses, and inspections with the relevant Arizona municipal building departments.

How much does a commercial tenant improvement cost in Phoenix?

Commercial tenant improvement costs in the Phoenix metro vary widely by scope and sector. Second-generation retail and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) conversions are usually at the lower end; first-generation vanilla-shell tenant improvements run higher because nothing is built yet. Specialty uses with heavy MEP — medical, dental, wellness, recovery — exceed typical retail pricing. Southwest Retail Construction provides detailed line-item estimates with open assumptions within 7 to 10 days of a project inquiry.

How long does a commercial build-out take in Arizona?

Timelines vary by scope. A small-format Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) or retail conversion commonly delivers in 10 to 14 weeks of construction; a ground-up shell with full tenant improvement typically runs 20 to 28 weeks. Permitting in Maricopa-County municipalities adds another 4 to 8 weeks depending on jurisdiction and scope. Project management includes schedule ownership and weekly owner briefings throughout.

What is the difference between first-generation and second-generation tenant improvement?

A first-generation space is a vanilla shell — blank concrete floor, unfinished walls, roughed or absent mechanical/electrical/plumbing. A second-generation space has previous tenant improvements that can be demolished or partially preserved. First-gen tenant improvements are simpler planning but often more expensive because everything is being built new. Second-gen can compress schedule when existing infrastructure is reusable; full demolition returns it to first-gen economics.

Do I need an architect for a commercial tenant improvement in Phoenix?

For most commercial tenant improvements in Phoenix, yes — permit drawings require a licensed architect or engineer of record. Exceptions exist for very minor cosmetic work. Southwest Retail Construction coordinates with the owner's design team during preconstruction and can recommend experienced Arizona architects for Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), retail, fitness, and wellness work.

What does a general contractor do that a construction manager does not?

A general contractor holds the construction contract directly and carries schedule and cost risk. A construction manager acts as the owner's advocate and manages the process, typically without holding the construction contract. GCs are better for owners who want one accountable party for the build; CMs fit projects where the owner wants separation between design, construction, and risk management. SRC operates as a GC with owner-rep level transparency — open books, documented change control, weekly briefings.

Commercial GC · Est. 2024 Phoenix · Scottsdale · Mesa · Tempe · Chandler · Gilbert

Build fast,
build right,
build transparently.

Southwest Retail Construction is a commercial general contractor run with operational discipline and technology at its core — delivering tenant improvements on schedule, on budget, and with unmatched transparency.

Invite us to bid See the work

01 / Portfolio

Selected Work · 2024–2026

Commercial spaces,
delivered transparently.

A growing catalog of commercial tenant improvements across the Phoenix metro and Arizona. Every project is tracked, documented, and reported in real-time — you see what we see.

Restaurant1,424 SF

Last updated April 2026

02 / Approach

Three commitments

A contractor
that operates like an operator.

We founded SRC because we think commercial construction can be run better — with modern operational discipline, technology-enabled transparency, and a relentless focus on the owner's experience.

01 · Experience

Two decades in the field. Two decades in ops.

Owned and operated by a construction veteran and a high-growth operator. Our principals have closed over 500 commercial projects and scaled ops at one of the fastest-growing fintechs in the country.

500+ projects closed
Field-led estimating
Owner-occupied leadership

02 · Integrity

Trust is our product. The building is the deliverable.

We operate with open books and open timelines. No surprise changes, no invented costs, no deflection. If something's off-track, you'll hear it from us first — with a plan.

Transparent cost reporting
Documented change control
Weekly owner briefings

03 · Detail

The small things carry the finish.

Precision in submittals, tolerances, punch-lists, and closeout. We inspect our own work the way you'd want your owner's-rep to. Nothing leaves our jobsite with a "we'll come back for it."

Owner-rep level QC
Photo-documented milestones
Zero-item punch-list goal

03 / Services

Six disciplines

Construction services designed to meet your needs.

We're designed to plug into the way your team already operates — from value engineering design consultation, through end-to-end project delivery. Use only what you need.

Design Consultation

Buildability review on materials, layouts, and structural elements — optimizing for function, cost, and construction sequence.

Cost Estimation

Detailed, line-item projections with open assumptions. We show our work so owners can make budget-informed design decisions early.

Trade Coverage

Qualified subcontractor coverage across all commercial specialties throughout the Phoenix metro. Bench depth means schedule resilience.

Project Management

End-to-end execution: resource allocation, schedule, budget, safety, QC. One accountable owner, one weekly briefing, one source of truth.

Quality Control

Rigorous, documented inspections and transparent reporting throughout construction. Discrepancies are logged, owned, and closed.

Closeout & Warranty

Complete documentation, formal handover, and a responsive warranty program. If something comes up post-handoff, we're there.

04 / Leadership

Owner-operated

Two founders.
One accountable team.

SRC is owner-operated. When you hire us, you hire Dustin and Kevin — not a business-development lead who disappears after the contract is signed.

Dustin Fahey

Co-founder · President

Started in the trades in 2001. Two decades in field and business roles across several general contractors, delivering a portfolio of 500+ midsized and large commercial projects.

Connect →

Kevin Fahey

Co-founder · CEO

Two decades in customer experience, operations, and technology. Most recently an executive at a high-growth fintech, where he helped dramatically grow operational capacity and portfolio size.

Connect →

05 / In their words

Recent client

“The shortest punch list we’ve had to date — a true reflection of the quality, attention to detail, and accountability throughout the build.”

— Samantha Miracle-Friel, Assistant Project Manager, REP’M Group · MilkShake Factory, Gilbert, AZ

Trade partner operating a cordless power tool on a commercial construction jobsite, with sawdust catching the light

06 / Trade Partners

Prequalify

We value long-term relationships.

SRC depends on trade partners who share our commitment to integrity, schedule, and craft. We build long-term, sustainable relationships — bringing the best local expertise to every project.

Currently onboarding qualified subs across the Phoenix metro for Q3–Q4 2026.

Get prequalified

Let's build.
Invite us to bid on your next commercial project.

Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you within one business day. Most full bids are returned in 7–10 days.

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Email: info@swretailgc.com
Phone: 858.848.4103
Service area: Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye, Litchfield Park

Typical bid turnaround 7–10 days

Build fast,build right,build transparently.

Commercial spaces, delivered transparently.

MilkShake Factory

MilkShake Factory

Uptown Cheapskate

Juice It Up

Reset Mind & Body

FS8 Pilates and Yoga

Face Foundrié

Fly Dance Fitness

Northside at San Tan Village