Columbia—South Carolina’s capital—is a rapidly-expanding metropolitan with a small-town charm. With its low cost of living, a welcoming culture, vibrant arts scene, and delicious cuisine, this breathtaking city is a top destination for residents, visitors, and aspiring business owners. With its ideal location, the city has also quickly established itself as a growing industrial hub. Businesses benefit from the city’s strategic East Coast location, which offers a vast workforce, aggressive incentives, and the lowest corporate income tax rate in the Southeast.

If you are looking to build a retail space in this thriving city, then get to know ten of the best retail contractors of Columbia, South Carolina. These contractors were chosen for their extensive experience, knowledge, and remarkable portfolios.


McCrory Construction, LLC

522 Lady Street, Columbia, SC 29201

McCrory Construction is a Columbia, South Carolina-based general contractor that caters to the southeast. Since 1918, the firm has established an impressive portfolio of over 3000 successfully completed projects, earning a well-deserved reputation for superior quality. The firm provides a diverse range of services, including general construction, design-build, and construction management. With an impressive one hundred and three years in the industry, the firm has remained committed to delivering projects tailored to the client’s expectations, budget, and space requirements. The firm’s highly skilled team handles each project personally, ensuring no missed detail.

This featured project for REI Co-op demonstrates the firm’s high quality. The client opened its second site in South Carolina, providing a diverse range of high-quality outdoor products, experiences, and expertise to Columbia’s BullStreet District. The new 20,175-square-foot space was built with energy-efficient practices and sustainable materials.


M. B. Kahn Construction Co., Inc.

101 Flintlake Road, Columbia, SC 29223

M. B. Kahn Construction has provided excellent construction services to a wide range of market sectors throughout the Southeast. It has an impressive portfolio of accomplished projects in aviation, healthcare, and retail. The firm has established itself as one of the country’s top construction firms with over nine decades of experience. From initial conceptualization to the final project handover, the firm takes a comprehensive, hands-on approach to ensure high-quality results. The firm also emphasizes the importance of long-term connections to maintain open communication and close collaboration throughout the project.

The Village at Sandhill, a 300-acre, 1.3 million-square-foot mixed-use complex near Columbia, South Carolina, is one of the firm’s notable projects. Since 2004, the firm has completed various phases of this project. 60 plus retail store tenant upfits and site work, infrastructure projects, utility services, foundation work, grading, site construction, streetscape, landscape, and site electrical and lighting are just a few of the projects on the list.


Mashburn Construction

1820 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Mashburn Construction has been providing full-service construction in Columbia and the surrounding area since 1976. Preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and general contracting are among the firm’s many services. Over the years, the firm has focused on building long-term relationships with its clients, suppliers, and trade partners. As a result, the firm delivers a smooth and seamless construction experience on every project.  It is backed by a team of highly trained designers and craftsmen who have years of experience and are dedicated to producing the best possible results. The organization is dedicated to delivering high-quality projects that are always tailored to the needs of its clients.

In 2011, Mashburn completed a design-build rehabilitation of a historic Columbia mixed-use building on Main Street in the heart of the city. To mirror the historic nature of the building in the 1920s, the scope included extensive façade refurbishment, uncovering existing windows, custom-built replacement windows, and a storefront replacement.


Hood Construction Company, Inc.

1215 Shop Road, Columbia, SC 29201

Hood Construction, founded in 1986, is a full-service construction firm that serves a wide range of clients throughout North and South Carolina and Georgia. The firm is run by a highly qualified management team with years of experience. The experience and expertise that the team brings to the table have resulted in the highest quality construction goods and services. It approaches project management with a transparent and collaborative approach, guaranteeing that each project is aligned with its quality standards. The firm offers comprehensive services, producing a more efficient process and a smooth construction experience. The firm constantly provides high-quality craftsmanship, cost-effective solutions, inventive building techniques, and excellent customer service in every project.

This firm provided design-build services for this new construction project in Columbia, South Carolina. The building is two floors tall and has a masonry and stucco veneer façade. The first level has Talbots and Talbots Petites shop spaces, while the second is a professional training center for the building’s owner, First Citizens Bank.


Pyramid Contracting

1108-A Lykes Lane, Irmo, SC 29063

Pyramid Contracting is an Irmo, South Carolina-based contractor providing high-quality services and exceptional projects throughout the Southeast since 2003. The firm provides preconstruction, construction, and post-construction services, providing a single-source solution that eliminates the need for several providers. Over time, the firm has remained committed to maintaining the project’s integrity and obligations to ensure customer satisfaction. As a result, the company has also stayed committed to completing projects on time and on budget while maintaining its high-quality standards. The firm has consistently delivered projects that “stand the test of time” with superior craftsmanship and impeccable professionalism. 

The Cedarcrest Shopping Center in Lexington was completed in 2008. A 14,300-square-foot shopping center, a 96-unit parking lot, and monument signage are all part of the project. The firm provided turnkey land development and construction to complete the project.


Chapin Commercial Construction

573 Chapin Road, Chapin, SC 29036

Chapin Commercial Construction is an up-and-coming contractor. The firm has only been in business for four years, but it has already delivered exceptional projects that serve as a testament to the firm’s superior craftsmanship and skill. Its commitment to keeping clients informed and updated throughout the project’s life cycle has earned the firm a solid reputation as a reliable contractor. It strives for continuous improvement, finding the optimal balance between the client’s needs, budget, and schedule. The firm’s open and collaborative approach has resulted in construction projects delivered consistently on time and within budget.

For Penntex Ventures, Chapin Commercial Construction delivered high-quality services to construct this project in West Columbia, South Carolina. To the client’s delight, the firm managed every detail from permits and contracts to post-construction, successfully delivering the project on schedule.


Tyler Construction Group

433 Rabon Road, Columbia, SC 29223 

Since 1979, Tyler Construction has served Columbia with a full set of services, including commercial, industrial, and government construction. No matter the project’s size, scope, or complexity, the firm is committed to delivering excellent projects that meet the goals and needs of its clients. The firm’s hands-on approach allows it to deliver a fluid and stress-free construction experience. Every construction project is given the time and attention it needs to be completed correctly, on time, and on budget. The firm maintains close communication and builds long-term relationships with its clients, suppliers to designers, subcontractors, and property owners to increase efficiency and streamline operations.

Over the years, the firm has been featured in several publications, including Hotel Impossible, Travel Channel, South Carolina Business, and The Times and Democrat. One of the firm’s notable projects is the Fort Jackson Shoppette in Columbia, South Carolina.


Weathers Contracting Company, Inc.

2543 Morningside Drive, West Columbia, SC 29169

Founded in 1995, Weathers Contracting Company delivers exceptional projects throughout Columbia and the surrounding area, focusing on commercial construction. The firm’s impressive portfolio includes various interior and exterior repairs, additions, new construction, and design-build projects. With over twenty-five years in the industry, the firm has built a solid reputation for offering high-quality services and fostering long-term connections through its outstanding business ethics. Its cost-effective solutions, inventive building techniques, and client-centered processes allow it to deliver reasonable pricing without compromising quality. The firm has consistently provided the highest degree of professionalism on every project. 

Over the years, the firm earned several awards as a testament to its superior quality, including the recent 2021 Historic Preservation Award from the Historic Columbia Foundation. The firm provided exceptional services to complete the AT&T Building in Columbia. The project includes a seven-floor low-rise building.


Montgomery Construction

1919 Augusta Highway, Lexington, SC 29072

Montgomery Construction was established in the year 2014. The firm offers complex construction services and solutions at a reasonable cost. The firm’s skilled team has completed projects worth more than $865 million, totaling nearly 7.5 million square feet of general contracting. Commercial, industrial, multifamily, historic, hotel, retail, and student housing are just a few of the sectors the firm works in. The firm has developed several long-term connections with its stakeholders, resulting in a long list of satisfied clients.

One of the firm’s notable projects is the Indah Coffee and Circa Barber Shop. The 12,000-square-foot facilities will be home to Indah Coffee’s first retail shop. The general contractor was the Montgomery Company of Columbia; the architect was SEED Architecture. Extra retail space will be available in an adjoining section at the back of the building.