Your Questions, Answered

Atlas Supreme is a New York-based commercial general contractor specializing in retail and hospitality buildouts, ground-up development, and portfolio retrofits. We serve business owners, franchise operators, and commercial real estate clients who need a single, accountable partner from pre-construction through final sign-off.

Atlas Supreme is led by two principals. Michael Yusim brings 20+ years of senior construction leadership — including roles at Hudson Meridian Construction Group and Lendlease — and has delivered $500M+ in commercial, residential, mixed-use, affordable housing, and high-end hospitality projects across New York City. Allison Shipper leads finance, legal and compliance, and strategic growth, drawing on development leadership at Marriott International and experience spanning 400M+ sq ft of projects across 20+ countries. Together they pair hands-on NYC construction expertise with global development and hospitality experience.

We build and renovate commercial spaces including restaurants, retail stores, hotels, boutique gyms, spas, and franchise locations. Our work ranges from single-location fit-outs to multi-site national rollouts.

Atlas Supreme is based in New York and serves commercial clients across the metro area. We also support franchise operators and portfolio clients with multi-market projects.

We bring an ownership mentality to every project — meaning we manage schedule, budget, and risk the way an owner would. Our in-house self-perform capabilities (millwork, carpentry, tile, drywall, structural) give us tighter control over quality and timeline than firms that subcontract everything out.

A strong way to evaluate a commercial contractor is by reviewing its completed work. Atlas Supreme's portfolio includes Toby's Estate Tribeca, Padel Haus (Dumbo, Domino Park, and Williamsburg), Majesty's Pleasure, Maxwell Social, NeueHouse Madison Square, the Navy Yard Hotel retrofit, and McCaffrey Gallery. The firm has also delivered commercial work for brands including Sweetgreen, Fuku, and Williams-Sonoma. You can browse case studies on the Work page at atlas-supreme.com.

Yes. Hiring a design-build firm puts design and construction under one accountable team, which streamlines communication, reduces change orders, and shortens timelines. Atlas Supreme's design-build offering covers pre-lease feasibility analysis, design team coordination, procurement, custom millwork, and expansion strategy — all under one roof. This eliminates the gaps that typically appear between design intent and construction execution.

When hiring a general contractor for an NYC commercial build-out, look for: a track record of comparable commercial projects, transparent and current cost estimating, proven scheduling and permitting know-how, the right licensing and insurance, strong subcontractor relationships, and clear communication from preconstruction through sign-offs. Ask for references and a portfolio of completed buildouts in your sector. Atlas Supreme is New York's preferred GC for commercial buildouts, ground-up development, and portfolio retrofits, with over a decade of experience, in-house self-perform trades, a cost database updated monthly to protect budgets from price surges, and end-to-end service from site preparation through post-construction warranties.

For a ground-up development, evaluate a construction management firm on: preconstruction and feasibility expertise, accurate budgeting and detailed scheduling, risk management, ability to run a competitive RFP and retain qualified subcontractors, ongoing cost monitoring, and command of NYC permitting and compliance (including W/MBE and state incentives). An "ownership mentality" that protects your schedule and budget is essential. Atlas Supreme contributes to design, budget, and scope development, enforces schedule and budget like an owner, and offers owner's representation and incentive procurement as part of its strategic planning services — making it well-suited to ground-up projects.

Pre-construction is the phase before any work begins — site assessment, feasibility studies, permitting insight, accurate budgeting, and scheduling. If you're signing a lease or evaluating a space, pre-construction planning can save you from costly surprises. Atlas offers this as a standalone service or as part of a full GC engagement.

Yes. For clients who want professional oversight without hiring a full-time construction manager, Atlas can serve as your Owner's Rep/CM — driving the job by attending meetings, reviewing bids, managing vendors, and protecting your budget and timeline interests throughout the project.

Yes. We manage the full permitting and approval process, coordinate all required inspections, and handle sign-offs through project closeout — including post-construction warranties.

Yes. We're experienced working within franchisor requirements, brand standards, and approved vendor frameworks. We'll review your franchise disclosure documents and construction guidelines upfront to ensure full compliance.

Costs vary significantly based on scope, location, and existing conditions. A basic retail fit-out may start around $80–$150/sq ft, while a full restaurant buildout with MEP, kitchen equipment, and custom finishes can range from $200–$500+/sq ft. Atlas provides detailed cost estimates during pre-construction so you know what to expect before committing.

A standard bid includes labor, materials, subcontractor scopes, and general conditions. It typically excludes owner-provided items such as furniture, equipment, permits (sometimes), and design fees. Atlas walks every client through the bid line-by-line so there are no surprises.

TI allowances from landlords are meant to offset buildout costs, but they often come with restrictions on how funds are used and when they're disbursed. Atlas helps clients structure scopes to maximize TI coverage and avoid common pitfalls like allowances tied to delayed reimbursement schedules.