Testimonials

Contact Information


jilliank@kalconllc.com

612.961.3294

2859 Gale Road

​Minnetonka, MN 55391


"Rise Collaborative's knowledge and expertise has been valuable in restoring our industrial era building from the 1800's into a modern day food hall. They have professionally navigated bringing new kitchens into the old building and giving it a unique character."
          -Patricia Wall, Owner of The Market at Malcolm Yards, Minneapolis, MN


"Rise helped my husband and I build our dream yoga studio in Minneapolis. We literally knew nothing about commercial construction prior to this project. We initially chose to work with Rise Collaborative because they were upfront and transparent from the very beginning about their terms and pricing. Throughout the project we found our project team to be trustworthy, honest, approachable, down to earth, professional and prompt with communications. We would definitely recommend them to others and would use them again in the future if for some reason we find ourselves doing another construction project. They literally helped make our dream come true."

          -Lucia Yess, Owner, Yess Yoga, Minneapolis, MN


"Our experience with Rise Collaborative exceeded all of our expectations. The Project Manager was phenomenal, helping us throughout the process. We have never worked with a group of people more professional and exceptional in their chosen careers. We look forward to working with them on more projects in the future!"   

          -Lee Tomlin and Tracie Munce, Owners,  Merlin's Rest Pub, Minneapolis, MN 


"RISE Collaborative impressed us from the get-go with their organization and clear communication on what to expect from the build-out of our brewery. RISE, having worked on numerous breweries and restaurants, had impressive knowledge and a good dialogue of what our needs were and how the brewing industry functioned. Their chosen sub-contractors for plumbing, electrical, framing and finishing were diligent and prompt with their work. The work they did was impressive, professional and well built. Weekly meetings and budget reviews kept everything on pace as much as possible and we were never in the dark about their process or what was expected. They obliged our change orders and were willing to get creative to meet our budget goals. If you are a brewery or restaurant owner looking for a rebuild or a new build we highly recommend them."
            -Josh Voeltz. Co-Founder of Arbeiter Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.


"It was such a pleasure working with RISE during our three month renovation. While a small project, no detail was too small for the RISE team, and they ensured our high standards were met. We would recommend them for any future restaurant remodels!"

            -Dana Bach, Owner of Snuffy's, Bloomington, MN.


"RISE Collaborative did a very professional job building Bub’s Aussie Pies. RISE is a very experienced company that has great following and provides excellent customer service. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to build a food service establishment. Outstanding job well done!"

             -Jason Drysdale, President, Bub's Aussie Pies, Lake Elmo, MN


​"Renovating a 110 year old building isn't easy.  What the RISE Collaborative team did for our Wellness Clinic in the North Loop was amazing.  I am confident that there isn't a better designed or more beautiful Wellness Clinic in the Twin Cities.  They kept their word, stuck to our budget, and were with us every step of the way, from major decisions, down to the most intricate details that we would have missed.  Hiring RISE allowed us to focus our time on our Grand Opening, hiring the right help, building a website, and all of the other aspects to opening a new business.  When we opened, we were able to go right into our space knowing it would function as we had dreamed. We are very thankful for their help."

            -Andy Risvold, Owner or Core Wellness Clinic, North Loop, Minneapolis, MN


"We are very pleased we engaged RISE Collaborative to manage the construction of our new brewery. We quickly came to understand that this is a uniquely different company in the general contracting world. Our project required several “design/build” elements and RISE Collaborative’s “open book” bidding enabled us to partner with them to make the right choices on subcontractors. While cost is always a dominating driver in the any decision, we also realize reliability is equally important. While RISE was very accommodating of subcontractors we preferred, they also leveraged their network of subcontractors who were equally reliable and cost effective. Every construction project, regardless of size, inherently faces issues that require focused and collaborative problem solving. This is precisely where RISE and their team shine. Their Site Supervisor,  Project Manager,  and Owner were completely engaged in working through multiple complexities within our project. I always felt I had an experienced partner navigating and resolving any issues that arose. With over $2 Billion in new construction projects popping up around the Vikings stadium, the sheer size of construction activity led to higher than expected bids. Instead of throwing up their hands and saying “this is what it costs now in today’s environment”; the RISE team rolled up their sleeves, and leveraged their strong relationships with subcontractors to help us redesign our project to meet the new cost realities while keeping true to our original design. In multiple ways, their suggestions were incorporated in a plan that was better than the original."

          -Jim Moore, Owner of Utepils Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN.


"My experience with RISE as my general contractor was excellent. I found them to be totally open and honest. Just as importantly, they showed that they are very flexible by being able to make changes on the fly in a very painless manner. At all times I felt like RISE had my best interests at heart instead of doing whatever the subcontractors said. There were set backs and challenges for sure, but together we got through them and, in almost every case it was a solution to my advantage. I would highly recommend them as a general contractor for jobs like mine."

            -Steve Long, Owner of 3rd Act Brewery, Woodbury, MN.


"There are so many things I could say about my experience with RISE and how they acted as much more than contractors. For this to be my first ever restaurant design and construction project, I can say that I am beyond pleased. All of the RISE crew was hands on and never missed a beat. Even when things were delayed on my end, they reassured me and completed the project to my expectations and beyond. I would definitely use them again and would refer them to anyone, both veteran builders and novice. I know I was in good hands for this project."

             -Teona Washington, Owner of Cajun Twist, Golden Valley, MN.


"RISE played a pivotal role in the Keg and Case project as a whole. During the pre-development phase, the team worked closely to help identify prospective occupants, and lent expertise in all construction related matters. RISE chose to embark on a very complex construction project with Keg and Case. They navigated the historic process, complete remediation, and compliance with both city building codes and vendor outreach, as well as compliance with our union project labor agreement. This was no small task, and Keg and Case is itself the best testimonial to the efficacy of their efforts. Thank you to the RISE team for all you did to help realize our vision."                                                                                                                                                    

            -Craig Cohen, Owner of Keg and Case Market, St. Paul, MN.


"The RISE team did a great job building out the Apple Spice commercial kitchen! It looks great, came in on the early end of the time-frame we discussed, and everything is working well!  I chose RISE because  they had a lot of experience building out commercial kitchens in this area.  RISE Collaborative's experience, relationships, and knowledge of the local codes made the process go very smooth.  I also appreciate the fact that once we got the quote from RISE the only pricing changes, usually initiated by us, were discussed openly and agreed upon in writing so there were no surprises in the end.  Having built out a few commercial spaces over the years, I can tell you that this alone is pretty rare. It was a great experience and I am looking forward to working with them again in the future."                                          -Mike Welch, Owner of Minneapolis/St. Paul Apple Spice Box Lunch Delivery & Catering Co.


"We get so many positive comments about how beautiful the building is. It's been--and continues to be--a real gift to have RISE as part of the Loppet team!"

           -Marin Byrne, The Loppet Foundation, Golden Valley, MN.

"As a couple of rookies to the build out process, we needed a lot of hand-holding from start to finish, and someone we could trust. And, as with most small businesses, we had a tight budget and quick timeline. Looking back, RISE exceeded all of our expectations. They provided timely, thoughtful, and honest guidance throughout the entire process, met our demanding deadline, and cut costs wherever we could without compromising our vision. We look forward to working with the RISE team on our next project!"

           - Amir Berenjian, Owner of REM5 VR Lab, St. Louis Park, MN


"The RISE team did a great job. I believe Site Superintendent Jeff went beyond any and all expectations. We were in constant  communication as this project took shape. Even with a few surprises due to a 100 year old building and numerous inspections, the job was completed on time.  So far I have received many compliments from the building association, other alumni, students, the house directer and the chef. A number of times I saw Jeff pitching in to get tasks finished or touched up. Glad we chose your company as the general contractor."

          - Jim McKinney, Alumni of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Minneapolis, MN 


"RISE is amazing! We are thinking about buying another building just to work with them again. "

           - Jean Hutar, Co-CEO of Dots Gray and Butcher Salt, Minneapolis, MN


"Working with RISE to build my dream brew pub was a very enjoyable experience.  From the day we met, until we were open for business I knew I could trust and count on RISE to get the job done.  They had many good sub contractors that they dealt with on a regular basis and knew how to get them to prioritize our project.  We had a complete overhaul of a large existing building, and they got it done in just 4 months.   The superintendent was especially good at his job coordinating the myriad of different subcontractors, and when he couldn't find a sub to do it in the right time frame and for the right price, he went ahead and did it himself.  Bottom line is RISE did a great job and they did it on a short timeline.  They hit the expected completion date, were within budget, and the place looks amazing.  I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to rehab or build new."

          - Brennan Greene, Brewmaster/Owner of  Birch's on the Lake, Long Lake, MN, and Birch's Lowertown, St. Paul, MN


"RISE was everything you expect and deserve in a general contractor. We had a complex remodel which included a total redesign of our facility, installation of a commercial kitchen, a lift, dining and office space. From the planning to the demolition and rebuild, through the day we received our new keys, RISE walked beside us to ensure that our dream facility was realized."

          - Vicky Couillard, Executive Director of Vail Place, Hopkins, MN


"We knew that the task at hand was monumental. We knew that every hand on deck was critical. The RISE team jumped right in and proved that our confidence was well placed. Your team definitely succeeded in providing a fantastic new Club House, Bar, and Restaurant that we are definitely proud of. Your ability to calmly navigate the myriad code requirements, to deftly "nudge" the subcontractors along, to assist us with value added propositions all added to our total satisfaction with our professional construction management services."

          - Randy Travalia, Owner of Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club, Prior Lake, MN


"We really enjoyed working with RISE when building our new Hola Arepa restaurant. They were honest and great to work with. They were willing to work on our limited budget, and gave us advice when we had questions. They worked hard to meet deadlines and stay within the time frame of our project. Whenever there were any issues, setbacks, or problems, they worked quickly to resolve them. Working on a build-out can be stressful, but RISE makes it easier by being positive, dependable and trustworthy. They were great people to work with, and we hope to use them again when we have more projects in the future.

           - Christina and Birk Grudem, Owners of Hola Arepa and Hai Hai, Minneapolis, MN