--- title: CTM Design Blog | Commercial and Retail description: Commercial and Retail | --- - [Visit CTM Architecture](http://www.ctmarchitecture.ca/) - [Legal](http://ctmdesign.ca/legal) - [Site Map](http://ctmdesign.ca/sitemap) [![logo](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.jpg?width=145&name=logo.jpg)](http://ctmdesign.ca/) - [About Us](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-company) - [Our Company](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-company) - [Our People](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-people) - [Our Accreditations](http://ctmdesign.ca/about-us/our-accreditations) - [Our Work](http://ctmdesign.ca/our-work/our-services) - [Our Services](http://ctmdesign.ca/our-work/our-services) - [Our Approach](http://ctmdesign.ca/our-work/our-approach) - [Project Gallery](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery) - [Project Map](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/project-map) - [Petroleum Service Stations](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/petroleum-service-stations) - [Resturaunt and Hospitality](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/resturaunt-and-hospitality) - [Retail Stores](http://ctmdesign.ca/project-gallery/retail-stores) - [Blog](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog) - [Careers](http://ctmdesign.ca/careers) - [Current Opportunities](http://ctmdesign.ca/careers/current-opportunities) - [Apply today](http://ctmdesign.ca/careers/apply-today) - [Contact Us](http://ctmdesign.ca/contact-us) ![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Layout/news.jpg?width=912&name=news.jpg) ## [FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING A QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT DESIGN FIRM](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on May 17, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_304391519.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm) Whether you are building a fast food restaurant using an existing corporate plan or template, or are creating an independent restaurant from scratch, you will require the services of a professional design consultant. A design consultant will be able to customize your design plans to your exact needs and ensure it conforms to the local codes and regulations. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/five-things-you-need-to-know-when-choosing-a-quick-serice-restaurant-design-firm#comments-listing) Topics: [Design](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/design), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT: 6 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A SITE AUDIT BEFORE YOU BUY REAL ESTATE](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on May 10, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_122556943.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate) *So, you’re looking for the perfect location for your hot new fast food restaurant. There are a lot of great commercial realtors out there.* *The good ones can provide you with invaluable advice on choosing a location with high traffic flow –maybe a corner lot with access to passing traffic on two main streets. They can likely recommend a vibrant neighbourhood that matches your customer demographic. They may be able to help you weigh the pros and cons of leasing versus financing, and hopefully, they are master negotiators who can help you get an incredible price. However, a realtor’s expertise only goes so far.* [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/quick-serve-restaurant-6-reasons-why-you-need-a-site-audit-before-you-buy-real-estate#comments-listing) Topics: [Design](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/design), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [C-STORE HEALTH & FOOD SAFETY DESIGN: 8 REQUIREMENTS YOU NEED TO KNOW](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on April 15, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/burger-1015438_1280.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about) In a recent post, [*Beyond the Microwave: Hot Food Options for Your C-Store*](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0), we gave you a taste of some options for providing hot food offerings in your C-Store. This week, we’d like to address equipment and design requirements around food safety. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/c-store-health-and-food-safety-design-requirements-you-need-to-know-about#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [Innovation](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/innovation), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Gas and Petroleum Stations](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/gas-and-petroleum-stations), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [BEYOND THE MICROWAVE: HOT FOOD OPTIONS FOR YOUR C-STORE](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on February 18, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_94893739.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0) ## **Six options for improving your food offering.** *Look around and it’s clear to see. Appetites have evolved! Expectations have changed. As a result, new equipment options and food trends are displacing the once mighty microwave in C-stores.* *CTM asked our independent C-store Consultant, Mark Walsh, about different equipment options available to help you take your food offering to the next level.* [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/beyond-the-microwave-0#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [HOT OR NOT: BRANDED OR NON-BRANDED FOOD ITEMS?](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on February 03, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_177840050.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0) ## **In our last blog post, independent C-Store consultant Mark Walsh helped us shed some light on the Pros and Cons of adding a hot food program to your service offering. ** As part of that conversation, he suggested the next key question an owner must ask after deciding to proceed with a hot food offering is whether or not is should be a branded (national franchise) or non-branded product. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-part-ii-0#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [HOT OR NOT: INTRODUCING HOT FOODS TO YOUR C-STORE](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on January 27, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_177840050.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0) ## **It's a question many C-Store owners struggle with: "Should I have a hot food offering? And if I do, should I choose a branded or non-branded product?" ** To help shed light on the key points you need to consider, we solicited the insights of an independent consultant and C-Store specialist, Mark Walsh. Mark addresses both questions in this two-part interview. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/hot-or-not-0#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) ## [THE 1, 2, 3's OF INTERIOR SIGNAGE.](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/the-1-2-3s-of-interior-signage) Posted by [CTM Staff](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/author/ctm-staff) on September 23, 2015 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hubfs/Blog_Photos/shutterstock_314138426.jpg)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/the-1-2-3s-of-interior-signage) ##### ****Convenience stores are about quickness.**** *Nothing personal...* but your customers generally want to find what they're looking for - and get in and out as fast as possible! This is why interior signage is so important. Especially in stores with a large and diverse product offering. [Read More](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/the-1-2-3s-of-interior-signage) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/the-1-2-3s-of-interior-signage#comments-listing) Topics: [Current Trends](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends), [Design](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/design), [C-Store and Quick-Service](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service), [Gas and Petroleum Stations](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/gas-and-petroleum-stations), [Commercial and Retail](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) [All posts](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/all) ### Get Our Latest Blogs Sent Straight To Your Inbox. Subscribe Now! ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Current Trends (14)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/current-trends) - [Gas and Petroleum Stations (14)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/gas-and-petroleum-stations) - [C-Store and Quick-Service (12)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/c-store-and-quick-service) - [Design (12)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/design) - [Commercial and Retail (7)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/commercial-and-retail) - [Car Wash (4)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/car-wash) - [Company News (2)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/company-news) - [Innovation (1)](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/blog/topic/innovation) see all © 2026 | CTM DESIGN SERVICES LTD. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [![everbrave-footer](https://w3.ctmdesign.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Layout/everbrave-footer.png?width=66&name=everbrave-footer.png)](http://www.everbrave.ca/)