Building Together: A Bluemercury Success Story

Every project has its moment of truth.

Ours came on day one.

I walked into what should have been ready. A blank canvas. Bluemercury's newest location.

Instead? A two-inch floor height difference. The landlord's team still pouring concrete. We were already months behind schedule.

Welcome to modern retail construction.

August 2025: An aging shell meets its destiny. Historic beams worth saving. A floor that wasn't flat. Our starting point.

When Timelines Collide

Here's what people don't understand. It's rarely just your project.

At Montgomery Village, we weren't alone. WS Development was building out the base. We were building Bluemercury. Same space. Same time.

Think about that.

Their crews. Our crews. Their permits. Our permits. One inspection triggers another.

"The partnership with KRC meant we could focus on our brand while they navigated the complexity. Without them managing the daily coordination, we'd still be negotiating who pays for what." - Lily Goodson, Director at Bluemercury

Weeks 3-6: Controlled chaos in action. Multiple crews, overlapping permits, shared space. This is where partnerships are tested.

The Floor Challenge

That height difference became our first test.

The expectation: level floors. The drawings: showed level floors. The fix: Negotiate with the landlord to minimize change orders from the start.

Here's where partnership matters.

Ian Sloane from WS Development and I connected. We reviewed the details. The lease. The drawings. The workletter. The existing conditions.

WS had been incredible partners. They'd worked through massive development delays. They'd given us access despite their own pressures.

We found a solution that worked for everyone.

That negotiation set our tone. Professional. Direct. Solutions-focused.

25 Reasons to Love Documentation

25 RFIs were submitted on this project.

That's 25 delays avoided. 25 surprises prevented. 25 decisions documented.

KRCrossing's proprietary Bluemercury project navigator kept everyone connected. Questions asked met fast answers. Sanzinia Nevarez and Pam Davies turned answers around fast. John Soliman at Apex Imaging embraced it immediately. By week two, he owned it.

"KRC's process is different—it assumes problems will happen and builds in the solutions before they become crisis." - John Soliman, Project Manager, Apex Imaging

This was an all-hands-on-deck project. The Bluemercury team, LGA Partners, Apex Imaging, WS Development and every trade partner committed to transparency.

The Ceiling Nobody Expected

Eight weeks in, wall coverings were up.

I knew immediately. This wasn't working.

The preserved ceiling beams? Beautiful. Seven different ceiling heights and angles? Not so much. Our standard approach would not work.

I called LGA. John gathered his crew. Three hours on site. Every angle measured. Every section redesigned. Done! Back in business.

October 2025: Every angle measured. Every section perfect.

That's partnership. Collaborative solutions.

"We don't just build stores. We share knowledge and align on processes. That's what transforms a client relationship into a true partnership."

The Numbers That Matter

Original timeline: Delayed

Grand opening: November 7

Build duration: 8 weeks

Budget status: On target

Punch list items: Minimal

Client satisfaction: Through the roof

Why This Project Matters

November 7, 2025: Montgomery Village celebrates. From exposed beams to luxury beauty destination in 8 weeks. Every challenge was worth this moment.

Montgomery Village proved something important. Complexity doesn't mean chaos.

Bluemercury continues its strategic expansion. Defining luxury beauty retail. Racing aggressive timelines.

They need partners who see solutions, not roadblocks.

That's where KRCrossing comes in. We bring expertise. We handle the surprises. We catch issues before they catch you.

That's what great retail construction looks like—partners who see solutions, not roadbloacks. Curious how this approach could work for your next project? Let's connect.

Michele

KRCrossing Consulting