Kings ContractorsWah 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.
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.
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.
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)
Kitchen Walls & Ceiling — FRP Panels
- Prep all kitchen walls and ceiling surfaces
- Supply and install kitchen-grade FRP multicoat panels
- Cut panels to fit, apply adhesive, fasten, and seal seams with trim + silicone
- Code-compliant, washable kitchen surface ready for inspection
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
- Test all connections for proper drainage
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
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
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
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
Restroom, HVAC & Final Finishes
- Prep restroom walls/ceiling, apply compound, repaint completely
- Install owner-supplied sink, vanity, toilet, mirror(s)
- HVAC inspection and cleaning of coils, vents, and grills
- Drain line cleaning of all floor drains in kitchen and back-of-house
- Full interior cleaning before opening day
The finished space.
Wah Coffee Shop today — open and operating, with the buildout Kings Contractors completed.
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.