Grand Impressions

Making Businesses Shine

By Jordan Staggs | Photography by Hunter Burgtorf

When thinking of outstanding architecture and design, our minds often drift first to custom luxury homes with floor-to-ceiling windows, incredible accents, and details to die for. But why not strive for the same level of excellence for a business or community building? That’s where builder Chris Burch and his team come in, working with top architects and interior designers across Northwest Florida and beyond to ensure commercial developers and business owners are afforded the same attention to detail and level of excellence regarding their properties. From iconic restaurants to medical offices, retail stores, schools, and cafés, Grand Bay Construction thrives when building creative commercial spaces.

Working along the stretch of coastal highway known as “30-A” and the surrounding communities of Point Washington, Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, and Panama City Beach, to name a few, Grand Bay Construction is well-versed in the language of custom homes. Still, people might not realize they have built some of the area’s notable and unique commercial properties. Restaurants like Wild Olives, Tommy Bahama, Vintij, and Black Bear Bread Co. in Grand Boulevard and Seaside have the Grand Bay touch, with truly memorable interior build-outs. Other businesses, like the three-in-one lifestyle mecca of SummerStory, Parasol, and Holiday Café in Alys Beach, also boast gorgeous facades and custom features like tile ceilings, shelving, and, at SummerStory, even a central gazebo-like structure that creates a serene sense of place in this affluent beach community. Consumers can’t help but feel at home and at ease within these shops.

Being on 30-A has been a blessing, says Burch, who founded Grand Bay Construction in 2005. After a few years of growing pains and economic pitfalls that affected much of the US, he and his team have seen remarkable growth in their business resulting from the boom of tourism and full-time transplants in the area. “There’s a tremendous amount of energy in this area,” he says. “Looking back, I don’t think I expected such a big wave of work. This area has exploded, and it’s fun to be part of it all. We are different from a lot of other regions where they have the same architectural style. Here, we have some of the most talented architects and engineers in the country, which allows us to adapt and build many different styles of homes and businesses, and I think that is what makes being a builder here so special.”

Burch and his management team oversee everything from their HQ in Grayton Beach, in the center of 30-A’s eighteen-mile stretch along the Gulf of Mexico. “It’s a dream to have our office within a short drive from a majority of the homes and businesses we’re working on so we can be more hands-on and efficient,” he says. “We are focused on growing our commercial division for new construction in the private and public sectors. Highway 98 and Highway 331 are some of our primary growth markets, but we’ll also cover areas across Northwest Florida.”

Working with architects, developers, and business owners from the beginning of each project’s build-out or renovation is crucial for Grand Bay to know the vision and the owners’ needs inside and out. “I often ‘see’ the finished space even before we start and keep that vision all the way through the process,” Burch says. But it’s as much about heart as it is about the fundamentals of construction. “As important as it is to know code and how to build, you also have to understand people. Working with different architects, designers, owners, and personalities, motivating my team, and keeping us all on track are key parts of this business for me and things I love. Seeing a project come together from concept to the completed building is rewarding for everyone involved.”

Some other unique projects Grand Bay Construction has completed recently include the newest Ohana Institute day school at Grand Boulevard Town Center, the wave-shaped Beachy Beach Real Estate office in Panama City Beach, the state-of-the-art Primary Care South in Santa Rosa Beach, and RB Collection + Kid Co. in Rosemary Beach. Burch shares, “These projects, along with a collection of stunning residential projects, are a testament to our team’s dedication and skill, keeping us busy and excited for what comes next.”

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Visit GrandBayConstruction.com or follow them on Instagram @grandbayconstruction to see more projects.