Cicero’s Development Corp., a Plainfield-based general contractor with nearly 50 years of experience, showcases the value of corroboration with the completion of its fifth renovation project for Chicago beauty salon, Frank Gironda Salon & Day Spa.
“Our first project with Cicero’s was an addition to my Wheaton Salon where we added about 2,100 square feet to accommodate our growing customer base in the Western suburbs,” states Chris Damolaris, who owns the salon. “Next came the opening of our salon in south Naperville where a 3,200 square foot space was deconstructed then reconstructed by Cicero’s. Our third project was a remodel of the Wheaton location, while the fourth was an expansion of the color room at the Wheatland Marketplace Salon in Naperville. We’re proud to announce the opening of our latest work with Cicero’s; a 5,600 square foot salon and spa in Wheaton, offering a range of services to soothe, beautify and nurture our guests.”
Taking in the interior of the new location it may be hard to imagine that three months ago it was three empty retail spaces devoid of visual appeal. Sam Cicero, Jr., Cicero’s president, oversaw the renovation’s progress from start to finish.
“Of course it’s difficult to not concentrate on the new salon’s interior design elements, such as its custom cabinetry and lighting, but there is just as much work done behind the walls as there is in front,” says Cicero. “Our team brought the three existing outlets together into one space where we installed all new plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems to help make Frank Gironda stand out in a competitive market.”
Salons renovate for a variety of reasons such as improving guest flow, increasing revenue centers, or improving upon the guest experience with new technologies and designs. However, every renovation has one common theme: the need to maintain a project timeline and budget.
Damolaris explains why budgeting played a crucial role in the newest renovation; “Cicero’s broke down every cost, so there was nothing hidden. Everything is upfront, on the table. From the beginning, we figured out where the budget was going to be and what it would take to achieve our goals. Every day we would get updates daily from Cicero’s showing the progress of the work. Also, they would send daily progress photos so I saw what was getting done and where the project stood. This freed up my mind to handle all the businesses that comprise Frank Gironda Salon & Day Spas. Cicero’s kept it within the budget and our tight time-frame.”
To achieve the efficiencies it displays in all of its renovations, Cicero’s employs Procore construction management software. Procore lets Cicero’s project managers and sub-contractors communicate to eliminate potential delays and rework. It also increases accessibility to realtime project data for office and field staff, as well as clients.
Jose Ortiz, Cicero’s project manager, says, “Constant access to project data from the job site speeds up decision-making and ultimately, project efficiency.”
Not all issues can be solved by technology, however. Sometimes it takes relationships and construction experience to tackle the unexpected. For example, early on in the project, a local code issue nearly derailed Cicero’s HVAC installation. The County of DuPage, where the spa is located, stated that it needed more fresh air changes per hour, resulting in costs increasing more than twice the original HVAC budget.
Cicero’s was able to resolve the situation by bringing in a trusted relationship from their stable of sub-contractors. With Cicero’s help and relationships, the price of the HVAC system was lowered, keeping the overall project within budget and time frame.
“Everyone at Cicero’s worked well together and they worked as a team to solve challenges that came up. I will use Cicero’s in the future for other construction projects that I have. They help with the small details and make it possible to be a real turn-key process,” says Damolaris.