I have NEVER had such a positive and creative experience with a General Contractor throughout my 33 years of owning and building four restaurants and my own residence. Joe and Team Z7Builders deserves a 12 out of 10, if there were such a rating.
The 400 sq ft space next door to my restaurant became available and I jumped on the opportunity to rent it and create a bar/lounge area for my restaurant. The previous tenant was a barber, so the space needed all the plumbing and electrical reworked to accommodate the appliances and sinks we had to install. From the initial consultation meeting, Joe, has been fantastic! Joe arrived to our appointment ON TIME, which is a first, since my restaurant is located on a busy street in parking deficient San Francisco and punctuality becomes the first characteristic that becomes compromised by previous contractors (and vendors!)
Although Joe mentioned to me that he primarily works on residential homes, he was able to seamlessly maneuver through the intricacies of commercial building. I didn't have definite plans drawn up yet, just an idea in my head as to how I'd like the bar to look and feel like to the customer. Since the space is small (400 sq ft), and there are many other bars within two blocks of us, I knew that the design of the bar would be a huge component to it's ability to compete and thrive. Joe even had an in house designer as well as his own superb aesthetic to assist with the color scheme, accents/details of the bar, and functionality to bring the "quietly modern, comfortable, and aesthetically impressive wine bar" feel that I was looking for. Because of Joe and his team, I have saved thousands of dollars by not needing to hire architect and a designer for the planning process. Joe even assisted with collaborating my vision (while keeping Health and ADA codes in mind) to the architect to draw up plans for obtaining building permits.
During every step of our construction process, Joe would "value engineer" without compromising quality while helping me stay on budget despite the increasingly elaborate details I added as the project progressed. Joe and his team custom built everything (except for the appliances and sinks) in the bar. Due to the unique floor plan of the space, each item, from the liquor shelving, bar cabinet (that the countertop sits on top of) with intricate wood detail, side countertop on the wall which "float" on top of an elaborate wood paneled 10'wide by 20' high accent wall, an amazing bench that sits flush with the wood "shutters" which overlay the windows required customization when building and installing. Joe even built an amazing pair of sliding barn doors for our new passageway between the restaurant and the bar. The beautiful stain on the wood accent wall and the faux finish on the crown moulding was expertly painted by Aaron, who is an absolute pleasure to work with. I gave Aaron a picture reference and a verbal description of the feeling I'd like the stain colors to convey. Aaron created eight stain samples, and I was amazed with how he was able to translate my vision into tangible stain colors.
Most of all, I appreciate the professionalism that Joe has shown during this two month construction process. Joe and his team were always punctual and very responsive. I have never had to wait more than 24 hours for a phone call/text/email back from Joe. From the quality of work and the attention to details that Joe and his team have shown to my project has indicated to me that Joe is a craftsman; someone who is truly passionate and cares about my project. Being that I own and operate two restaurants and now a bar, I usually don't have the time to write such a comprehensive review. However, I felt it necessary to follow the proverbial "Golden Rule", "Do onto others as they do onto you." Joe and the team at Z7Builders have been a pleasure to work with AND they built an amazing bar for me, and for that, I submit this review not only to share my experience, but a reflection of the my satisfaction and appreciation. read more