Country club kitchen renovations could take years before coming to fruition, so once approved it is critical for the process to be completed as smoothly and as quickly as possible.
Renovating a country club kitchen is a huge undertaking. The kitchen is the club’s lifeline and the process can seem overwhelming. But if a kitchen has become inefficient over the years and is hindering the success of a club’s dining program then a renovation should no longer be put on the back burner.
Oftentimes the kitchen is on the bottom of the list for renovations made by a club. Most members don’t see a club’s kitchen so they might have a difficult time understanding the value and impact a pricey renovation will have on their dining experience. After months or even years of proposing plans, you’ve finally been given the go-ahead for a renovation – so now what?
After being given a budget, the first step to a successful country club kitchen renovation involves deciding how you want and need the finished remodel to look and function. Combine all of your wants and needs into two different lists and then decide what ranks the highest importance and what the kitchen could live without. A club also has to decide when renovations will be taking place. Will it is during an annual shutdown, will the kitchen need to temporarily close, or will construction be done in phases while staying open?
Next, you’ll need to decide which appliances, equipment, and other features will be staying and which will be replaced or remodeled. Now is a good time to think about the future of a club’s dining program. It is essential to have equipment that is geared towards what is offered on the current menus. However, if club chefs only choose equipment for the current menu, the possibilities of creating a more diverse menu and other offerings in the future could be limited. A club’s kitchen will most likely need to be completed quickly, so ordering all materials and appliances ahead of time will help prevent any lengthy delays in the process.
For larger or more complicated renovations it is important to hire an architect, general contractor, and maybe even a designer if aesthetics are also a priority. General contractors will also be responsible for obtaining any necessary building permits needed. Be sure to interview and get estimates from a few different companies that fit both your ideas and budget.
A kitchen renovation can be disruptive for both members and staff, but in the end, a country club kitchen renovation will be beneficial for everyone and will be an investment that will pay for itself in the long term.
