Some commercial projects sound simple on paper: “We need more space.” Then you get on site and reality hits.
Tommy’s Motor Sports needed a bigger showroom in Crossville, Tennessee, and they needed it without shutting down the business. Their location at 550 Crabtree Rd sits right off the interstate corridor, so traffic stays steady. People don’t just plan visits — they see the lot, pull in, and expect a clean showroom with room to browse.
East Tennessee Contractors partnered with Tommy’s to expand the showroom, improve the flow, and coordinate the upgrades needed to meet fire code, all while keeping the doors open. That mix takes planning, tight sequencing, and clear communication.
Why Tommy’s Needed More Showroom Space
A crowded showroom limits sales, and it does something subtler too: it makes the customer experience feel rushed. When aisles tighten and inventory stacks up, people don’t stay long. They browse less. Staff has less room to work. The building starts working against the business.
Tommy’s wanted to display more inventory and build a better shopping experience for both planned visits and interstate drop-ins. The goals stayed clear from day one — add showroom space, improve customer flow, and keep the business open through construction.
Building a Steel Expansion Without Closing the Front Door
Retail-facing construction can wreck a business if you don’t plan around the public. Dust and noise turn customers away. Blocked entrances kill momentum. Changing access points without warning creates real safety problems.
This project needed a genuine stay-open plan, so we approached it as a phased operation — coordinating work zones, controlling access, and sequencing the schedule around the customer, not just the crew. When a client asks whether you can build this without shutting them down, the answer can’t be wishful thinking. It takes a plan, daily communication, and a crew that executes without chaos.
Fire code coordination ran alongside all of it. Code work isn’t flashy, but it protects customers, employees, and the operation itself — and on an expansion, code requirements reach beyond just the new square footage. Handle it late and you invite delays and rework. We built that coordination into the process from the start, which kept the project aligned and predictable instead of reactive.
Why a PEMB — and Why In-House Trades Matter Here
This expansion used a Pre-Engineered Metal Building approach, which fits commercial work where speed, durability, and clean coordination all matter at once — especially when the business has to stay open through it.
At East Tennessee Contractors, steel isn’t a side service. We design, fabricate, and erect steel buildings using PEMB systems, and we employ our steel and concrete trades in-house. On a job like this, that’s the whole ballgame. Handling the structural work with our own crews means fewer handoffs, tighter scheduling, and faster adjustments when the sequence has to shift around a busy showroom floor. That’s not about cutting corners — it’s about removing the friction where schedules usually break.
Key Features That Made This Expansion Look Right and Perform Well
Tommy’s didn’t just want more space. They wanted an addition that matched the brand and held up to heavy daily traffic:
- Timber-framed porch to elevate the front entry
- Pre-Engineered Metal Building structure supporting the expansion
- In-house concrete work and steel erection
- Galvalume roof for durability
- Liner system insulation, painted black for a clean, finished look
These choices sharpened what customers see first — entry, roofline, and finishes — while doing the structural work behind the scenes.
The Result: A Better Experience Right Off the Highway
The expansion supports one thing: growth. More showroom space gives Tommy’s room to display inventory and welcome more customers. Better flow makes the space easier to browse. The entry upgrades improve curb appeal the moment someone pulls off the interstate.
And because the facility stayed open the entire time, the business kept serving customers while the expansion went up around them.
Expansions don’t have to mean downtime when the contractor plans the job around reality. East Tennessee Contractors is a commercial and steel building contractor based in Crossville, Tennessee, building commercial facilities, steel buildings, and PEMB projects with a focus on schedule, safety, and clean execution. If you need to expand a showroom or build a Pre-Engineered Metal Building in Crossville, contact us and let’s plan a project that keeps your business moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tommy’s Motor Sports located? 550 Crabtree Rd, Crossville, TN 38571.
What is a Pre-Engineered Metal Building (PEMB)? A steel building system designed for efficient fabrication and erection, often used for commercial expansions and large clear-span spaces.
Can a business stay open during a commercial expansion? Yes — if the job is planned in phases with controlled access, clear safety paths, and tight scheduling.
Why does fire code coordination matter during an expansion? It protects people, reduces long-term risk, and helps prevent last-minute changes that delay the project.
What should I prepare before requesting a quote for a showroom expansion? Your goals for layout and inventory, timeline constraints (like staying open), and any known code or site requirements.
