Case Study · Café Buildout

Wah Coffee Shop

A 2,000 sq ft coffee shop buildout in Richmond featuring a curved concrete service counter with stainless steel tops, custom FRP kitchen, full MEP rough-in, pendant + recessed lighting, and finish work that turned a bare retail shell into a fully operating café.

Location
Richmond, TX
Project type
Coffee Shop Buildout
(retail conversion)
Floor area
2,000 sq ft
(74 occupant capacity)
Wah Coffee Shop completed interior with bar, lounge, and entrance
The brief

A bare retail shell turned into a full-service café.

The owner of Wah Coffee Shop came to Kings Contractors with a 2,000 sq ft retail shell in Richmond and a vision for a warm, industrial-modern coffee bar with high ceilings, exposed ductwork, and a curved concrete service counter as the centerpiece. The project, designed by JMack Architects, would convert the existing retail space into a code-compliant A2 assembly occupancy with a 74-person capacity.

Kings Contractors handled the entire buildout end-to-end: counter framing and stainless steel installation, kitchen FRP panels for a code-compliant cooking area, full plumbing including a health-department-required hand sink (with concrete slab saw-cut), restroom finish, pendant and recessed lighting throughout, dedicated electrical circuits for coffee and ice machines, fireproof ceiling tiles above the workstation, custom 2×2 lumber ceiling framing, barn doors, and final cleaning.

Coordination across trades was managed in-house, permits and inspections handled directly with the city, and the space delivered fully ready for opening day.

By the numbers

Project specifications.

2,000
Gross
sq. ft.
757
Seating area
sq. ft.
215
Kitchen
sq. ft.
24ft
Service bar
linear ft
74
Occupant
capacity
Scope of work

What Kings built.

Full-service general contracting from rough framing through final cleaning. Every trade managed in-house or through our vetted crew of specialists.

01

Counter Construction & Stainless Tops

  • Frame approx. 24 linear ft of curved service counter
  • Install required framing, blocking, and substructure
  • Supply and install stainless steel countertops
  • Cut openings for equipment and sinks; level and secure
  • Stainless extension added per owner-revised layout (taller + wider)
02

Kitchen Walls & Ceiling — FRP Panels

  • Prep all kitchen walls and ceiling surfaces
  • Supply and install kitchen-grade FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) multicoat panels
  • Cut panels to fit, apply adhesive, fasten, and seal seams with trim + silicone
  • Code-compliant, washable kitchen surface ready for inspection
03

Plumbing — Sinks, Drains & Rinsers

  • Disconnect and remove existing dishwasher; cap lines as required
  • Install thaw/prep sink with water and drain connections
  • Install bathroom sinks and owner-supplied fixtures
  • Install two pitcher rinsers atop the stainless counter with required connections
  • Test all connections for proper drainage
04

Hand Sink — Health Department

  • Saw-cut existing concrete slab to access drain line
  • Tie new water supply and drain into existing system
  • Install hand sink at code-required location
  • Pour back concrete, finish flush with surrounding floor
  • Includes all fittings, testing, and clean-up
05

Electrical & Dedicated Circuits

  • Dedicated circuit breaker for the coffee machine
  • Dedicated electrical lines for ice machine and fridge
  • Wiring run to equipment locations per layout
  • Coordination with main electrical panel and inspections
06

Lighting — Pendants & Recessed

  • 7 pendant lights installed at side area
  • 4 pendant lights installed at front/counter area
  • 9 additional fixtures wired and mounted
  • Eight 4" recessed lights in bathrooms
  • Nine 2" recessed lights above working counter
  • Mop sink area lighting included
07

Ceiling Work — Fireproof Tiles & Framing

  • Fireproof tiles installed above workstation (health inspection requirement)
  • Surface prep, backer/adhesive, tile setting, grouting, and finishing
  • 14 pieces of 2×2 lumber framing installed on ceiling above working area
  • Measuring, cutting, leveling, fastening to existing structure
08

Restroom, HVAC & Final Finishes

  • Prep restroom walls/ceiling, apply compound, repaint completely
  • Install owner-supplied sink, vanity, toilet, mirror(s); caulk and touch up
  • HVAC inspection and cleaning of coils, vents, and grills
  • Drain line cleaning of all floor drains in kitchen and back-of-house
  • Bookshelf staining and clear finish
  • 39" × 83" door installation with owner-provided hardware
  • Full interior cleaning before opening day
Process & walkthrough

Watch the build.

During build

HVAC & ductwork install

Scaffolding up, ductwork going in, bar mid-build under wraps.
Detail

Ceiling framing — metal stud

The metal stud framing skeleton above the bar before drywall went up.
Finishes phase

FRP panels & finish work

Kitchen FRP panels staged on-site, mid-installation.
Designed by
JMack Architects

Architectural drawings, code review, and finish specifications by JMack Architects, Houston, TX. MEP engineering by Source2Load Engineering & Consulting. Construction and millwork executed by Kings Contractors.

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