From Retail Roots to Global Reach

By designing and building projects from conception through completion and post-handover, the company has positioned itself as a trusted construction partner capable of delivering seamless, end-to-end solutions.

Founded in 1977 as a general contractor, SAJO’s DNA has always been rooted in retail and commercial spaces. The suburban expansion of the 1980s and the rapid development of shopping malls fueled the company’s growth and established its expertise in retail contracting as a specialized niche.

The company’s two principals, Salvatore (Sal) Guerrera and Nicola (Nick) Tedeschi, built SAJO on a shared vision and decades of experience. Over nearly 50 years, the company has evolved from a traditional general contractor into a multifaceted organization that includes millwork fabrication, design-build services, technology solutions, and facility management.

This transformation also expanded SAJO’s reach beyond Canada—first into the United States, where it has maintained a strong presence for over 40 years, and more recently into Europe.As Jon Guerrera, Executive Director and Partner, explains, while SAJO’s U.S. presence is long established, the company has only recently formalized it through standalone offices in Miami and New York City, complementing its European offices in London and Milan, while continuing to benefit from strong residential opportunities in the Miami market.

Since its inception, SAJO’s core values have consistently emphasized client-centricity, transparency, honesty, responsibility, and accountability. The company’s culture is deeply rooted in building long-term relationships, with some partnerships spanning decades among both professionals and clients.

Diego Di Sabatino, Director of Construction, reflects on this philosophy through his own 25-year journey within the company—from assistant to director. Throughout that time, he has witnessed leadership remain deeply involved with teams and operations, reinforcing a culture where accountability is practiced at every level.

Hiring is approached with the same mindset. SAJO prioritizes attitude, character, and core competencies over experience alone, believing technical skills can be taught, but values must already exist within the individual. This people-first philosophy has proven highly successful in building strong, loyal teams.

With a team of more than 220 professionals, SAJO balances corporate structure with a strong family atmosphere. This combination fosters loyalty among both employees and clients, generating significant repeat business—particularly within the retail sector.

Looking ahead, the company plans to leverage its expertise in high-end interiors while expanding into adjacent sectors such as food and beverage, hospitality, and office spaces, particularly as the office market regains momentum.

By capitalizing on its strengths in delivering premium finishes and high-performance spaces, SAJO aims to provide clients with superior results that meet both budgetary and scheduling requirements.

Drawing from decades of retail experience, the company intends to apply this expertise to markets with similar operational and design synergies.

Internationally, SAJO continues to strengthen its European footprint. Following Brexit, the company strategically entered continental Europe and has already completed projects across Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Spain, with ambitions to further expand across Western Europe and potentially Eastern Europe as retail demand grows.

One of SAJO’s standout recent projects was completed for Apple, one of the company’s long-standing key clients. After more than 20 years of collaboration, SAJO recently delivered a flagship Apple store in Montreal.Spanning 20,000 square feet across four floors, the project involved nearly every aspect of construction, including intricate cornice work, abatement, and historical restoration. Recreating the building’s original patinated copper cornices required close collaboration with the city and specialized restoration architects.

Given the project’s complexity, SAJO employed advanced technologies including robotic layout tools, LiDAR scanning, and topographical surveys to navigate the building’s multiple floor layers and 19th-century structural challenges.The demanding project lasted nearly two and a half years and culminated in the store’s opening on January 16. According to the client, it became one of the finest projects delivered across Apple’s global portfolio.

Closer to home, SAJO is also advancing Le Centre d’art Battat (CAB) in Montreal, Canada—a unique project for a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting artists.The project required nearly a year of regulatory approvals to permit a wood structure exceeding four stories for public use. Construction is currently focused on completing the structural phase of the renovation.

Sustainability has become a critical component of modern retail construction, but SAJO approaches it with practicality rather than performative checklists.

Among retail clients, sustainability expectations vary widely. Some pursue LEED certification, while others seek BREEAM certification or broader sustainability objectives. In many retail environments—especially within existing malls—formal certification can be difficult if the building itself does not participate in a sustainability program.To address this, SAJO developed its own sustainability framework inspired by LEED, BREEAM, and other certification systems. The company focuses on criteria that genuinely improve build-outs and fit-outs without creating unnecessary costs or delays for clients.

Beyond certifications, demolition processes are handled with the same mindset. Waste is separated before disposal, records are maintained to track where materials are sent and how they are treated, and wherever possible, old materials such as steel and concrete are repurposed for new uses, including landscaping applications.

This practical approach reflects SAJO’s broader philosophy: thoughtful planning over box-checking.

As SAJO approaches its 50th anniversary, its journey continues to be defined not only by scale or scope, but by an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and lasting relationships. By staying true to its core values while embracing new opportunities, the company continues to build a legacy that extends far beyond construction.