Projects — Edward Warmoth

Throughout Southeastern USA

Multi-Site · Ground-Up · Modular · Conversions · Franchise

45 franchise units and 15 corporate units across the southeastern United States, encompassing ground-up construction, modular diner installations, free-standing conversions, and retrofit projects within hotels. This portfolio — totaling over $71 million — represents the systematic multi-site delivery capability that allowed Ed to manage 60 restaurant projects in 18 months at the peak of this work.

Eastern USA

Multi-Site · Open-Restaurant Remodels

51 remodels across Darden's restaurant concepts — Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, and Bahama Breeze — across the eastern United States. Open-restaurant remodels, where guest service continues throughout construction, require site management and stakeholder communication of a different order than standard commercial work.

Lake Buena Vista, FL (Walt Disney World)

Fast-Track · Open Store · Retail · 26 Days

Ghirardelli approached Conquest Contracting seeking to increase sales at their Downtown Disney flagship. Ed performed traffic flow studies and developed a three-phase plan — originally scheduled over three months. Two days before commencement, Disney officials informed the team that the project was to be done in a single phase, with a duration of 30-days.

The project was not a facelift: demolition and reconfiguration of the entire service line, an addition for the new customer queue area, a new rear storage facility, and reworking of the kitchen — all on a 24/7 schedule, with retail chocolate sales continuing throughout. Even with a week of daily executive walkthroughs (with resulting lists of new work items) the transformation was complete in 26 days. The increase in sales nearly doubled the 15% target; operational efficiencies also produced a 55% reduction in staffing – an outcome not in the original brief.

Ghirardelli's VP of Restaurants, Yvo Smit, called the Downtown Disney shop his "Orlando living room." After completion, Conquest Contracting prepared a full presentation stepping him through the transformation.

Boca Raton, FL

Tenant Improvement · Fast-Casual Restaurant

Tenant improvement for Pei Wei Asian Diner (owned by P.F. Chang's) in Boca Raton. The existing floor slab was removed, the bar joist roof reinforced for three new HVAC units, and a secondary fire-rated wall erected after discovery of a deficient demising wall in the 50-year-old building. Twelve weeks from discovery of existing conditions to staff possession and training.

Orlando, FL

Multi-Building · Occupied Office Renovation

Darden Restaurants had its main offices spread across 14 buildings in southwest Orlando, with departments scattered as much as a mile apart. Conquest Contracting was engaged to reorganize and consolidate the departments — moving related teams into shared workspaces across 52 extensive remodels. This year-long project earned the internal nickname "Departmental Rubik's Cube."

Orlando, FL

Specialized Construction · Soundproofing · Active Building

The culminating project of the Darden headquarters reorganization was a state-of-the-art Multimedia Center at the center of the eight-story main office building, with active offices on all sides. Ed designed the soundproofing for walls and doors and assisted Darden's architect in developing the layout. This 4,000 square foot facility included a video conferencing studio with satellite hookup, full video production studio, sound booth and control area, main mixing control room with observation window, duplicating room, and master storage. All soundproof doors and windows were designed by Ed and produced locally — providing Darden significant savings in cost and schedule. Walls achieved 58 dB or greater sound reduction. Finished throughout in natural cherry wood.

Central Florida

Office · Tenant Improvement