As the largest city in the Midwestern state of Michigan, Detroit continues to attract top businesses and visitors annually. It has banked on its vibrant history of music and the automotive industry while evolving with the ever-changing trends of arts, culture, and cuisine. Throughout the decades, its retail scene has adapted to the times and is one of the most profitable in the Midwest—making it one of the best places to build a name for yourself or follow through investments in top brands. 

This list presents the top retail contractors that can help you in setting up the perfect home for your business. We have curated this list based on a number of factors, including company background, portfolio quality, awards received, principal history, and reviews from former clientele. Construction studios on this list work on a wide variety of retail buildings such as clothing stores, grocery markets, and automotive dealerships.

 

O’Brien Construction Company

3011 W. Grand Blvd, Suite #315, Detroit, MI 48202

Founded in 1962 by Eddie O’Brien, Detroit-based O’Brien Construction Company has transformed itself from a small general contractor to a nationally-recognized commercial builder. Now run by Eddie’s son, Tim O’Brien, the company currently specializes in multifamily housing, historic preservation, renovations, and large building contracts in the municipal, commercial, education, and religious markets. The O’Brien Construction Company has been a constant recipient of AGC’s Safety Performance Awards and Crain Detroit Business’s home building and general contracting awards.

The company has completed many retail projects across Detroit and other cities in Michigan. These projects include big-box supermarkets, pharmacies, and auto dealers. Featured here is the company’s work on Sterling Mazda. O’Brien did new construction services for the car dealership service area as well as a showroom to showcase the latest in the Japanese brand’s automotive technology.

Rockford Construction

155 W. Congress St. Suite #505, Detroit, MI 48226

From real estate to project management to general contracting, Rockford Construction has mastered a full suite of services that can cater to every client’s building needs. It has strategic locations in Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Fort Myers, allowing it to serve the whole of Michigan and the rest of the country. The firm’s founder, Mike VanGessel, is a seasoned builder with more than 4,800 projects to his name. He has led the Rockford team since its inception in 1987 and continues to do so. Rockford has ranked among ENR’s Top 200 General Contractors nationwide. Its retail portfolio includes big-box supermarkets, shopping centers, and boutiques.

Rockford Construction successfully did meticulous renovations to the iconic Hotel St. Regis in Detroit. Its work honored the history and preserved the elegance of this 55-year-old hotel that has catered to icons, leaders, and celebrities over the years. The firm carefully renovated the hotel’s lobby, restaurant, bar, and guest rooms. It also maintained the building’s interior architectural details while focusing on updates geared to reflect a more modern aesthetic. The result is a hotel reborn with stately elegance and revitalized sophistication.

Roncelli, Inc.

500 Griswold St. #2440, Detroit, MI 48226

A multinational construction company, Roncelli Inc., delivers benchmark-setting construction and award-winning design to a vast customer base. It started as a foundation and concrete services company in 1966 and has quickly expanded into general contracting, design-build, and facility management. Today, it is focused on innovative solutions for the healthcare, commercial, and institutional markets all over the US, Canada, and Mexico.


Roncelli was responsible for the fourth location of Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace in Metro Detroit. It transformed a former Kroger store at Bloomfield Plaza Shopping Center into an upscale fruit and produce market. The 42,000-square-foot renovation was a huge undertaking. It includes complete store refrigerators systems, kitchen installation, custom sales shelving, and new offices in the basement. All of this is topped by an elaborate structural steel canopy entrance finished with metal deck roofing. The glass storefront is highlighted by a unique lighting system.

Ronnisch Construction Group

42 Watson Suite 2, Detroit, MI 48201

From commercial and industrial to financial and medical, Detroit-based Ronnisch Construction Group provides a strategic approach to every construction project resulting in the highest quality service and customer satisfaction. It has established itself as one of Midwest’s leading providers of construction management, general contracting, and design/build services across an expansive array of markets. Leading its team of design and building experts is founder and president, Bernie Ronnisch. He draws upon his more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry. He and his team have earned accreditation in the latest design and building methods and employ cutting-edge technology to keep projects on schedule and on budget.

Ronnisch Construction Group completes many retail projects throughout Southeast Michigan. One of its latest projects is the expansion and renovation of Comcast Corp’s Midtown Detroit store and business office. The 1,800-square-foot Xfinity store in Woodward was remodeled to accommodate the selling of cell phones including Apple and Samsung products. The space is now more user friendly for customers and more efficient in showcasing all products and services. 

Sachse Construction

1528 Woodward, Suite #600, Detroit, MI 48226

Headquartered in Detroit, Sachse Construction is an award-winning general contracting and construction management company that has continuously raised the bar in construction quality, customer service, and business ethics. The company has built millions of square feet of commercial, retail, multifamily, and institutional space throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico since its establishment in 1991. It has been named as one of Building Design + Construction’s Top Retail Construction Firms in the country as well as one of ENR’s Top 400 General Contractors.


Sachse has demonstrated its great command of retail construction know-how through local and national retail projects. It has been the partner of many big brands such as Nike, Tumi, HomeGoods, Shinola, Old Navy, Tory Burch, Whole Foods, and L.L. Bean. From design-build to renovations, it is one of the go-to retail contractors of businesses throughout Michigan. Here, Sachse managed to preserve historic elements of the iconic Kresge Building while providing a modern retail space for sports brand Under Armour.