While Andy Flint, owner of HA Construction, has a lifetime of experience within the construction industry, he also has a background in food service. For four years he was the supervisor of the food service department at Evangel, specializing in formal banquets, followed by four years as the kitchen manager at Shorty Smalls in Springfield.
Because of this background and extensive knowledge of the food service industry, Andy develops a special excitement when HA Construction is hired to work on a restaurant. That excitement and experience reveals itself in the results of the project.
“I have a clear understanding of what works best for the food service industry, and what the necessities will be for the owner to run a successful business, says Andy. “Once the project commences, there isn’t much need for the owner to supervise my team – I usually have everything under control and don’t have nearly as many questions as other projects might have, because I can anticipate the owner’s needs and response.”
That’s why building both the Nixa and Springfield locations for Dickey’s Barbeque Pit was such an enjoyable experience for Andy and his team. HA Construction’s participation in the project went beyond building walls and installing windows. Andy’s experience provided him the opportunity to aid in the design process, creating a layout that optimized the management of the business, and shop for the restaurants’ necessary equipment on his own. Not only was Andy able to negotiate lower prices for the equipment with retailers, but he also came across pieces that exceeded expectations. In fact, some of the products he found will now be implemented in the management of other Dickey’s restaurants across the nation.
HA Construction did everything from choosing an architect to submitting plans to the city and obtaining permits. Andy and his team lined up the electrical, plumbing and mechanical engineers and even ordered the drive through menu boards. Working with HA Construction for your restaurant project is a low stress experience, and Dickey’s is proof.
I’m very proud of the HA Construction team who worked very hard, even through the weekends, to meet the opening day deadline,” says Andy. There were, of course, hiccups in the process, but, Andy insists that when it comes to opening restaurants, any obstacles they encounter are his responsibility to deal with. “I don’t bring problems to my clients; I bring them solutions to choose from,” Andy adds. HA Construction was able to exceed expectations for Dickey’s despite a minor obstacle or two.
Dickey’s in Nixa is at 111 North Massey Boulevard. The Springfield location can be found at 1360 East Republic Road. Both were built simultaneously by HA Construction.
Andy raves about how great the Dickey’s restaurants are and that it was a privilege to work on the project. The family friendly, fun atmosphere (with clean restrooms and appealing colors) is a great addition to the Nixa area.
“We at HA Construction enjoyed working on the Dickey’s Barbeque Pit restaurant immensely and wish them success,” Andy says. “We look forward to more projects with Dickey’s and other restaurants in the area.”
