Our History – The Blueprint

The Beginning…

ARA sparked into life over 20 years ago. Born in a Bronx apartment, our company began building houses in Rye, New York. Shortly afterwards, the housing market turned for the worse. Humbled by the experience, we decided to push on to the commercial sector.

From there, we forayed into the grocery store business, building refrigerated coolers, cases, shelving, millwork and miscellaneous installations common to grocery store fitouts.

Grocery giant Ahold set us on our feet. The contract kicked off ARA’s early years of growth, and a steep learning curve that took us from Martha’s Vineyard to the mountains of West Virginia − building anything and everything and enjoying every second of the journey.

Ahold took us to the next level, giving us the opportunity to remodel their New Milford, Connecticut store. To this day, we could drive blindfolded to that site.

It was challenging work, but we loved every minute of it. Brick by brick, we were getting better. The Ahold job taught us that we could be really good at what we do, and that a tremendous sense of achievement comes from completing a difficult construction project.

Forging on, we remodelled our first Staples in Hicksville, New York. Since then, we’ve worked in over 400 Staples stores all over the country and Joe Devoy, our founding partner, has become the only contractor in the US with a Staples store dedicated to him.

Pay a visit to Staples at White Marsh, Maryland and you’ll find his plaque!

Over 20 years, our client list has become the envy of the industry. Most importantly, however, we still have the clients we started out with.

Our future will be no different. Here at ARA, we love what we do. We pride ourselves in making long-term friendships, and we celebrate our successes together.

We aspire to be the very best in the construction business. We aspire to truly partner with our customers, co-workers and associates in performing our work. We want no less than to improve the lives of each and every person that comes into contact with ARA Construction.

These are lofty goals, sure. But given our past, present and future ambitions, we’re confident that we will achieve them… and enjoy the ride while we’re at it.

The history ARA makes tomorrow will be no different to the history we’ve already made. Construction can be simple, you know!