Development in Berwick continues to grow with the groundbreaking of a new project for the Dewitt Tilton Group, a leading commercial construction company in the Southeast. The unique ceremony included a blessing of the ground by Owner Mukesh Patel and members of his family at the site of the new retail location.

Chris Tilton, president and co-principal of the Dewitt Tilton Group, was pleased that the sun was shining on their new project.

“It was a very special day because we had about 14 straight days of rain and that was the only sunny day,” Tilton said.

The new building will be home to two retail outlets standing at 22-feet tall and covering 7,000 square feet. Neighboring the Berwick Marketplace, the new build will have to follow strict guidelines in order to align with the rest of the area.

“It is very unique in the fact that it is an outparcel of Kroger on Berwick, so the exterior design is very intricate,” Tilton said. “It’s got stone masonry, brick, stucco, parapet walls; it’s got a drive-thru window and canopies. The exterior is going to look phenomenal, it’s got a lot of steel in it and a bar joist and a TPO roof. It’s got a lot of nice details to it.”

Tilton began the Dewitt Tilton Group back in 2014 with co-principal and long-time friend Andrew Dewitt, who he met while attending Benedictine Military School. Their company offers clients assistance and expertise in every aspect of a project from start to finish.

“We sell a process,” Tilton said. “Come talk to us and we will design it and we will get your permits for you. We’ll do all that while you go do the things you do every day.”

Outsourcing the design process can prove to be a much longer ordeal for those looking to build and includes hiring an architect and civil, mechanical, structural, plumbing and electrical engineers.

“Come talk to us and we will design it and we will get your permits for you. We’ll do all that while you go do the things you do every day.” — Chris Tilton, president and co-principal of the Dewitt Tilton Group

“That’s why we do it all in house,” Tilton said. “We can typically crank [the design] out in eight weeks.”

Talk of the project between Patel and the Dewitt Tilton Group began back in 2018, but plans had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Now, back on track and about 30 days into building and the steel infrastructure being installed, the project is expected to take about seven more months to complete.

Moving into the space will be an owner-occupied liquor store that will be about 5,700 square feet. The other remaining 1,300 square feet will possibly be occupied by an ice cream shop, according to Tilton.

“What goes better than liquor and ice cream?” he said.

The new retail outlet will be located in a busy area off Ogeechee Rd., surrounded by a Kroger supermarket, Starbucks, Subway, McDonald’s, a UPS Store, Great Clips and more.

“There’s a lot of traffic in here and it’s really going to benefit from a retail standpoint for this community,” Tilton said.

When asked why he thought the Dewitt Tilton Group was awarded this project Tilton said “We have a reputation for getting it done.”

The new Berwick Retail Building will be located at 30 Berwick Blvd. The Dewitt Tilton Group is located at 119 Canal St. Suite 106, Pooler. Visit dewitttiltongroup.com or call 912-777-3404.

This article appears in Apr 14-19, 2021.