From high end stores to historic renovations, Sajo builds retail’s most complex visions
Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Sajo is an integrated project delivery company serving international markets across the retail, commercial, residential, institutional, and utility sectors. 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.
The business was founded in 1977 as a general contractor, with its DNA rooted from the very beginning in retail and commercial spaces. The suburban expansion of the 1980s, along with the rapid development of shopping malls, fueled the company’s growth and solidified its focus on retail contracting as a specialized niche.
The company’s two principals, Salvatore (Sal) Guerrera and Nicola (Nick) Tedeschi, had previously worked together on several ventures and founded Sajo based on their shared experience and vision. Over nearly 50 years in business, the company has evolved from a relatively one-dimensional general contracting firm into a multifaceted organization that includes millwork fabrication and offers additional services such as design-build, technology solutions, and facility management.
This evolution has also expanded the company’s reach beyond Canada – first into the United States, where it has been active for more than 40 years, and more recently into Europe.
“While our US presence is longstanding, it is only in the last few years that we formalized it with standalone offices in Miami and New York City, complementing our European offices in London and Milan. That said, we do benefit from a strong residential presence in the Miami market,” says Jon Guerrera, Executive Director and Partner.
Shared values
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 lasting relationships, with some spanning several decades among both professionals and clients.
Diego Di Sabatino, Director of Construction at Sajo, shares his perspective on the company’s work ethos: “I started working here 25 years ago as an assistant and have since grown into a director position. Throughout my time here, I have seen the company maintain its core values. Even today, I see Sal and Nick actively engaged with everyone in the office. Their involvement over the years has inspired me to adopt the same approach with my own team, which consists of 25 professionals completing projects across the United States, Canada, and the Bahamas.
“I remain heavily involved in day-to-day tasks with my team, and I believe this encourages everyone to be accountable. That is why I believe our company stands a level above much of the competition – we remain deeply engaged in our work.
“Furthermore, Sal and Nick have always prioritized hiring team members based on attitude and behavior, while training them to develop the necessary knowledge and technical skills. We prefer to focus on an individual’s core competencies and personality.
“This approach has proven highly successful. Over the past ten years, the team members I hired based on attitude rather than experience have been the ones who not only stayed with the business but also excelled. If we find the right person, we can teach them the technical skills – that’s the easy part. What truly matters is bringing in people who share our values, because they ultimately make the organization stronger,” he explains.
Expanding market presence
With a team of 220, Sajo is large enough to operate strategically and structurally as a corporate entity, yet small enough to retain a strong family atmosphere. This balance fosters loyalty among both employees and clients, resulting in significant repeat business – particularly in the retail sector. The company remains committed to preserving this culture even as it continues to expand.
In the coming years, Sajo plans to leverage its core competencies in high-end interiors while exploring sectors with similar synergies to broaden its commercial footprint. As part of this strategy, the company will expand its focus beyond retail to include food and beverage, hospitality, and office spaces, particularly as the office market begins to regain momentum.
By capitalizing on its strengths in delivering high-quality finishes, the team aims to provide clients with superior results that meet both budgetary and scheduling requirements. Drawing on its extensive retail experience, the company intends to apply its expertise to markets that share common operational and design synergies.
In addition to expanding into new sectors, Sajo is actively growing its international presence, as highlighted by Victor Khoueiry, Executive Director for the company’s European branches: “We have established a strong foothold in North America and the UK through our London office, supported by satellite offices in Milan and Florence. Following Brexit, we decided to enter continental Europe. We have already completed projects across Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France and Spain, and we aim to expand our reach further to cover all of Western Europe, where there are still many opportunities. In the future, we may also venture into Eastern Europe, as these markets are expected to gain momentum in the retail sector.”
Closer to home, Sajo is also making its mark on the North American market with a particularly challenging project in Canada: Le Centre d’art Battat (CAB). The client is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting artists and has secured substantial funding due to the innovative nature of the project. The project presented a unique regulatory challenge, as the team had to wait nearly a year to obtain the necessary code changes permitting a wood structure for public use exceeding four stories. The renovation is currently underway, with the company focused on completing the structural phase of the work.
Impressive project portfolio
Diego also shares details about one of his favorite recent projects, completed for Apple, one of his department’s key clients: “We have been collaborating with Apple for more than 20 years, and we recently delivered a flagship store in Montreal. Spanning 20,000 square feet across four floors, the store encompassed nearly every aspect of construction, including cornice work, abatement, and historical restoration. For the restoration component, we had to involve the city and a specialized architect to accurately recreate the building’s original patinated copper cornices.
“Given the complexity of the project, we employed several advanced technologies, including robotic layout tools. We also conducted LiDAR and topographical scans to navigate the building’s multiple floor layers. Because the structure dates to the 19th century, we encountered numerous unexpected challenges, making the involvement of our technology team crucial to the project’s success. Overall, it was a very demanding endeavor that lasted nearly two and a half years, culminating in the store’s opening on January 16. According to the client, it was one of the finest projects ever delivered across Apple’s global portfolio,” he recounts.
Such intricate projects with highly specific requirements can make it challenging to integrate green building practices – something many retailers are increasingly passionate about. Victor explains how Sajo embeds sustainability into its projects: “Among our retail clients, sustainability requirements vary. Some request LEED certification, while others pursue BREEAM certification or other high-level sustainability targets. However, in retail – especially when building within existing malls – it can be difficult to achieve certification if the mall itself is not part of a sustainable program. To address this challenge, we developed our own sustainability program, inspired by LEED, BREEAM, and other certifications. We select criteria that genuinely impact build-outs or fit-outs, rather than simply following a checklist. Our goal is to implement these practices without creating additional costs or delays for our clients, as both are critical considerations for retailers. The establishment of our program was driven first and foremost by our deep commitment to sustainability.
“Beyond that, when we perform demolitions, we ensure that the crew separates waste before it is discarded. We maintain records of where the waste is sent and how it is treated. On a specific project, we collaborated with the architect to repurpose many of the old materials, such as steel and concrete, for use in landscaping outside. This approach reflects our sustainability mindset, emphasizing thoughtful planning rather than simply checking boxes,” Victor concludes.
As Sajo approaches its 50th anniversary, its journey is defined not just by scale or scope but by steadfast dedication to its core values while expanding across diverse sectors and countries. By staying true to its commitment to quality, innovation, and lasting relationships, the company continues to embrace new opportunities without losing sight of the principles it was built on and that have come to define its legacy.