Research & Development

It takes a whole lot more than just a good idea to create a successful restaurant.  Strategic planning supported with accurate and up to date research raise the probability of success.  Our team will analyze the market place with statistical information provided by data centers and public archives.  We will structure a plan to suit the goals attainable within your specific market. Traffic counts, age and income demographics, market saturation and depth, competition, and a host of other variables come into play. We will analyze growing trends within the restaurant industry for your area. That’s why your choice for the correct source of information regarding the restaurant industry is no small decision. It’s your hard earned dollars that we will save just by doing our homework. Customer satisfaction expectations will vary from area to area.  We will analyze customer expectations with respect to service, value, ambiance, menu appeal, and more.  Customer demographics, visit frequency, and spending habits are just a few. This research will give your business a “McGuigan Concepts” advantage in a variety of areas. Will potential guests look positively to your new restaurant concept? Do your menu items reflect “McGuigan Concepts” consumer trends? What is the maximum amount your customers will pay for you items? Could you be under-charging?  With “McGuigan Concepts” research, you won’t have to guess.

Starting a new concept is tough enough in the restaurant business without trying to go-it alone.. Don't make that mistake. Get McGuigan Concepts on your team and increase your efficiency, creativity, and profitability with our proven systems.   While selecting a site, we will not only research the many locations available in the marketplace today, but we will give you the information you need to make an educated decision weather to build out a completely new structure or lease and refurbish an existing one.  Whether you need to have that drive-by visibility to succeed or do just fine as a destination location.  Your budget and estimated return on investment really comes into play when making these decisions.  McGuigan Concepts will assure that you minimize your risk by taking into account your target audience, demographic mix, competition, population trends, traffic counts and patterns and more. Real estate agents will give you a bias opinion while trying to sell you a site.  We will give you a realistic, objective evaluation as to the possibilities of the location.  One you have selected a site, our president Mike McGuigan, will personally review the terms of the lease to assure they are fair and not favoring the landlord and that the lease terms are consistent with terms that your operation can afford.  He will then have our legal team review the document to assure you are not getting into something you might regret later.

Restaurant Creation
For brand new concept start-ups, we will work with you to mold your ideas into a complete, viable concept. From the initial building design to the very first day you open, we will work with you, side by side until you make your first deposit after opening day.
For older slightly stale or stagnant concepts or multi-unit operations, McGuigan Concepts will creatively assist you while updating and overhauling your concept, without destroying the existing loyal customer base you have worked hard to achieve.
Concepts come and go.   The Concepts that survive and prosper over the long term are the flexible ones that are in a constant state of change and modification. We here at McGuigan Concepts are tuned in to newest “McGuigan Concepts” trends in the restaurant industry.
Click HERE to see our Portfolio Restaurant Design
For your restaurant to gather and maintain a loyal customer base,  Your aesthetics must lure the people from the streets by creating an inviting sense about the way the place feels.  Does your restaurant create an environment that matches the concept you are trying to develop?

Thousands and thousands of minute details must all work together in harmony  to create the concept in whole.  You must touch all the senses when developing the design. Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes when all working together, will provide a subconscious feeling about weather a customer will return.  The “Ambience” of the brad must be adapted to the space provided.  We are experts in this field.

We start by understanding and evaluating the intent of the Concept through one on one meeting with our clients.  Then we look to make certain that our concept ideas are being represented correctly within the establishment. Finally, put it all on paper creating first and second drafts.  When you are completely satisfied and in tune with our final design project, the architect will make the finishing touches and it’s onto the next phase! Restaurant Construction
Once the Design Plans are complete, we will assist with the build out process from permitting to selecting a general contractor, to the bidding process for subs.  We will assure that your timelines will be met and that the construction process is up to our specs.  All successful businesses start on a good foundation and this is exactly what we will strive for here in the literal sense! Click HERE to see our Portfolio

McGuigan Concepts is the perfect match for anyone looking to turn their dreams of opening a restaurant into a reality. We work with you through the entire process from Idea creation through the design and construction details. We make it easy because you only have to work with one partner; a partner which will be with you every step of the way. A Pro Forma is a necessity do determine if the concept is actually viable. When the Pro Forma is completed with care and attention to detail, it will serve as the  ultimate decision maker whether to actually move forward with the concept or scrap it for another. It will give us the ability to forecast and plan the funding of the project as well as the ability to set goals moving forward. Our Pro Forma is  designed with care which does not just take in the variables of industry  nationwide, but examines the local market to make adjustments that are specific to the area in which the business will operate. Mike McGuigan will personally review the Pro Forma and will use his expertise to reflect accurate numbers. He will  demonstrate to the client a “Best Case”, Worst Case” and a “Most Probable" outcomes. Our very talented staff are foodservice industry specialists, just like the big  chain restaurants, we will incorporate your restaurant's concept and branding into  the complete design from the atmosphere and logo, to the Menu and website, to in- store promotional materials, and signage. During concept development, we help consult with the design or redesign of restaurants from a marketing perspective. This can be as simple as a small “face-lift” or as complex as a complete build up. We work with only the best architects in the business. It is a fact that most of the busiest and most successful restaurants are chains. The reason for this success is that costumers know what they are getting when  entering a chain restaurant. There is no guess work. Chains are successful  because they are consistent. Everything about the chains branding says “quality” and “consistency”. We at McGuigan Concepts believe that many times, the closer a small  private restaurant can mirror a chain restaurant as perceived by the customer, the better chance the small entrepreneur will have at success. Many of our independent, single operation unit clients have achieved this “Chain” restaurant feel and have  experienced great success. Many of our clients have told us that their customers are frequently asking “How many stores do you have?” and “Where are they located?” It is no myth that the attention should be paid to the details. As you can see in our portfolio and success stories, we leave no stone unturned when it comes to detail. The theme must run throughout all aspects of the operation. Yet in keeping with the goals of the concept design, we are able to achieve the maximum creative results under an affordable budget. We are experts in maximizing the use of each and every dollar spent to achieve the most out of the concept. Remember, it is a complete dining experience which touches all the senses! The concept must be the veins in which the life blood of the idea is spread throughout each facet of the operation. And to create an extremely successful concept, every facet of the operation must contain elements of, and relate back to the theme!

When creating or revamping a restaurant concept, the menu can be the single most important marketing tool. The menu is the leading indicator of what the concept is trying to portray. The menu is an extension of the entire vision of the concept. Every aspect of the brand should be considered when designing the menu. At McGuigan Concepts, our culinary development team works to achieve a menu that reflects the overall marketing strategy and a menu that captures the essence of your restaurant theme. 
Restaurant Menu Consulting
Our Culinary team will work with restaurant operators to achieve the exact “vision” of the establishment. Mike McGuigan has the creative knowledge of the hottest concepts that he will implement within the specific concept of the operation. Mike will keep in mind the overall project goals and the abilities of the staff as well as the clientele of the target market when working with you to create a menu. We work with you not only to create the menu items, but also mouthwatering, creative names and verbiage, the recipes, the recipe spec books including photos of each item and the plate presentation, as well as training your staff on the importance of consistency. Of course at McGuigan Concepts, we also specialize at creating a bar inventory and menu as well. Let the McGuigan Concepts team develop your culinary needs and help you to create a menu that will further define your brand and make your concept a success.
Click HERE to see our Portfolio

McGuigan Concepts will help you to create the perfect menu items to compliment your marketing strategy. We have a database of thousands of tried and proven recipes from around the world. Mike McGuigan will personally assist with the preparation and testing of every item on the menu. If you have an idea for a new food item, we can perfect the recipe in our test kitchen. Every menu item will be professionally prepared, plated, and samples by you and our panel and undergo our critical F.A.C.T. testing.  This is a McGuigan Concepts test that assures the most important attributes of each menu item are met for Flavor-Appearance-Consistency- and Texture. McGuigan Concepts will help you analyze all recipe ingredients for quantity, quality and price, assuring you are purchasing the best possible product and best value for your dollar.