City Grill

Michael Carrigan 
Senior Vice President
KHS&S Contractors of New Jersey Inc.

“Rebranding” is the big trend in Atlantic City, says Carrigan, who heads the design-assist interior/exterior building firm’s office there. “Multiple casinos are refreshing, altering, changing or adding new venues,” he says. Carrigan explains how one new owner of several properties has “spurred construction growth” as that company implements new business strategies and spaces. He says, “New and different attracts customers,” adding that “competing properties are following suit to stay viable.”

Nonstop makeovers have created certain challenges. “Sourcing materials and vendors is a big issue,” Carrigan says. If a contractor needs to match an existing item, “it is almost certainly out of stock or discontinued,” he says. “This is forcing owners, designers and architects to reselect or completely change concepts.”
Even if a vendor remains in business, what’s “worse is the inconsistency,”  Carrigan says, akin to when items advertised as “in stock” then disappear on order. “It is all but impossible to commit to a schedule or for a contractor to accept liquidated damages,” Carrigan says. “Hopefully we can all survive it!”