Hospitality Archives - Bush Construction

Botanical Heights

Posted on December 10, 2024

Botanical Heights is a new name that replaced McRee Town, which at one point was one of the most dangerous urban neighborhoods in the nation. At the time we moved in, the eastern half of the neighborhood had recently been completely torn down and replaced with new housing by a large regional home builder. The western half was assumed to be slated for the same fate; we had a different idea!

Working with a not for profit redevelopment group, the Garden District Commission, which was formed by the nearby Missouri Botanical Garden, we forged a new plan that stabilized the existing building stock and move forward with an ambitious plan for historic rehabilitation and infill building that would re-create a walkable, sustainable, mixed use neighborhood.

To date, our team has developed, designed and built over 40 new homes, dozens of apartments, a facility for Missouri’s top performing charter school, several nationally recognized restaurants and various office and retail spaces. We have guided over $15 million in investments in the neighborhood thus far with another $10 million slated for the coming two years.

The neighborhood has received local and national praise for both the speed and quality of the redevelopment. By working within the context of this long neglected 100 year old neighborhood we have been able to foster a rebirth with the density, amenities, and charm that make city neighborhoods great places to live and work.

Olio and Elaia

Posted on December 10, 2024

Bush served as design-builder and developer for this new venture by our good friend, chef Ben Poremba. Olio, described as a “grown-up wine bar and eatery,” is located in a former 1930s Standard Oil station that had been covered in plaster and stood abandoned for over a decade. Following a careful uncovering and analysis of the existing structure to determine the original form and brick pattern, we were able to lovingly complete a rehabilitation of this iconic structure. Olio, and its sister restaurant Elaia, are now an important anchor for our redevelopment of the Botanical Heights neighborhood.

Clementine’s Creamery

Posted on December 10, 2024

After completing a small permitting set for an interior renovation at another location, the owner of Clementine’s Creamery asked us to help her design and build her first “ground-up” location in South City. Initially, we tried to preserve a small building on the site, but after determining it was not structurally adequate, we were forced to remove it, keeping only part of the rubble foundation.

The result was a one-story brick building that was reflective of the Clementine’s “not your typical ice cream parlor” brand. Vintage parlor characteristics like tiny, square black and white tiles, delicate cafe tables inside and out, and a symmetrical, classic turn-of-the-century building shape are part of the design, but known for its boozy, (naughty) flavors, we put a twist on the typical St. Louis red brick. Two sheens of black brick in a clad the front facade, creating frames around the doors and windows and a diamond pattern that can be seen as the light shifts throughout the day.

We worked with the owner to get all of the details right on the aesthetics and the functionality of the space. The serving, kitchen, storage and queuing areas were meticulously thought out for the best customer experience.

Pour Bros. Craft Taproom

Posted on November 3, 2021

Pour Bros. Craft Taproom opened its third location in Downtown Moline in 2022 with the help of the Bush Construction and Design team.

When opening its doors in Peoria Heights, Illinois, in 2016, Pour Bros. Craft Taproom was Illinois’ first self-serve bar featuring pour-your-own technology. Founders Nathan Monroe and Rob Mathisen have combined modern technology with old-fashioned service to create a truly unique experience. They also believe and invest in communities that embody rich histories and beautiful stories like those of Peoria Heights, Champaign, and now Moline.

Pour Bros. occupies close to 4,000 ground floor square feet at 1209 4th St., Suite 2, in Moline. The development collective is known as The Q and is also home to The Element Hotel, Urban Farmhouse, and a future hub to hub to passenger rail service.

Bush Construction built a 26-foot-long bar with a subway tile backsplash. Tables were made from repurposed semi-truck flooring to fill the floor, created by West End Salvage in Des Moines. Murals and artifacts paying homage to Moline create a homey atmosphere.

Our design team did an excellent job of creating an eclectic combination of concrete floors, metal, wood, tile, and artwork blend together to create an inviting and relaxed space. The large room is a mixed-use area consisting of vintage games and some TVs – a great space for groups, parties, league game nights, trivia, or just a fun place to hang out with friends.

The interior of the new craft taproom features a rustic industrial design that pays tribute to the area’s hard-working heritage who built this vibrant community.

Check out this article the QC Times wrote about this project!

The Captain’s Table

Posted on March 18, 2021

After a structure fire destroyed the Captain’s Table, a longtime Quad-City area restaurant located alongside the bank of the Mississippi River, Bush Construction worked with the owners to rebuild the 6,000 square feet restaurant and 2,000 square feet patio.

The project consisted of:

Reworking the sites and stabilizing the soils of the new building’s footprint.
Pouring and stripping new concrete parking lots.
Installing concrete ramps and pouring stairs that lead into the building.
Installing a small deck for the entrance to the kitchen and a riverfront patio/deck for outdoor dining, built using large glulam beams and composite deck boards.

Bush Construction also installed two complex door systems called Win-Dor folding doors. These door systems lead to the large dining patio. On the exterior of the building, we installed fiber cement siding, metal fascia, metal soffit, a flat TPO roof, and a shingled roof. The indoor dining areas consist of LVT floors, painted walls, and painted wood siding and exposed ceilings with painted duct.

The main entry has a storefront vestibule/waiting area with a custom hostess stand. The bar also includes custom waiter stations, bar top, and shelving for behind the bar. To complete the bar area, Bush Construction installed painted wood siding and cedar wood ceilings.

Lastly, the state-of-the-art commercial kitchen includes a keg cooler and a large cooler for food storage with a freezer on the inside as well. The finishes include FRP walls, acoustical ceiling tiles on the ceiling, and Protect All flooring. The kitchen also includes a massive 35-foot vent hood hanging above the cooking area.

Hilton Garden Inn

Posted on February 12, 2019

The new 80,000 SF, five-story wood-framed Hilton Garden Inn Hotel features 119 guest rooms, a pool, hot tub, fitness center, meeting rooms, offices, and an in-house kitchen, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The new hotel was part of an overall revitalization project on the corner of Middle Road and I-74 in Bettendorf. The updates included the new hotel, the construction of a Starbucks and retail store on land sold to a developer by our client, and the demolition and construction of a new, high-end gas station. Bush Construction was thrilled to be a part of the regeneration of this area, not only because of the opportunity for our client but for the betterment of our community.

The construction of such a large hotel required a considerable amount of communication between the owner and Bush Construction. While quality communication is critical on all construction projects, it was especially crucial on this project as there were multiple owner-supplied materials, equipment, furniture, etc., which all needed to be coordinated.

Me & Billy

Posted on February 4, 2019

The Me + Billy project consisted of three phases. Phase one included the renovation of a space recently purchased by the owner. This space expanded their ability to hold private parties. The new event space, The Fairhaven, is one of a kind in the Quad Cities and features a wide range of unique finishes.

Phase two and three included updating the cooler, dish room and kitchen. These updates allowed a better flow for back-of-house operations. We completed the kitchen remodel in four working days as it was imperative to provide minimal impact on the owners and their operations.

Atomic Coffee

Posted on February 4, 2019

The Atomic Coffee Bar project in Bettendorf was another step in Atomic’s brand expansion throughout the Quad Cities and surrounding areas. This facility mirrored the dual drive-through style of Atomic’s Brady Street location while incorporating a sleek and modern look. In an effort to reduce required construction time-on-site, as well as the overall construction cost, the building was delivered in a “modular” format.

The building module was constructed offsite, in a climate-controlled warehouse, nearly 100 miles away. The module included weather barriers, walls, drywall, flooring, painting, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical items. This modular approach provides safe and efficient building construction, in a controlled environment. Once the building pad and foundation were completed onsite, the building module arrived and was set in one day.