On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Joshua Weisman joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Construction Concepts. The Houston-based company has built a number of prominent restaurants, including Burger Bodega, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, and Doris Metropolitan.
Weisman begins the conversation by explaining how he pivoted from residential construction to nightclubs and, eventually, restaurants. From there, the discussion covers a lot of ground, including Weisman’s favorite projects, working with outside designers and architects, and the tricks to navigating the City of Houston permit office. Sandler asks Weisman what current design trends he’s most excited about.
“We’re seeing a lot more higher end, luxury finishes. People are going the extra mile to wow people,” he says. “We’re seeing a lot more brass and gold, a lot more metal on the interiors. One thing I like is we’re seeing more florals and colors. Whether it’s wallpaper or trees inside, which I like quite. We’re seeing a lot more natural woods, mahogany, walnut with brass inlays. It’s trending to a higher end feel for a lot of spaces.”
Listen to the full interview to hear Weisman break down what it actually costs to build a restaurant. He also shares what his dream project would be.