Owner-side development advisory
AT Development Advisory helps restaurant, retail, and franchise teams evaluate sites, uncover risk, coordinate design, and move toward construction with clarity.
Experience supporting recognized organizations
Services
AT Development Advisory focuses on the decisions made before a shovel reaches the ground. Each engagement is shaped around the project, with the owner’s goals, capital, and timeline at the center.
Phase one
Confirm whether the opportunity is viable before major commitments are made.
Evaluate potential locations against operational goals, access needs, and budget.
Assess existing structures, basic infrastructure, parking, access, and practical fit.
Investigate use restrictions, setbacks, review timelines, and feasibility constraints.
Review regulatory considerations, available connections, and capacity for the proposed design.
Phase two
Pressure-test the plan, expose hidden risk, and prepare the project to move forward with fewer surprises.
Review architecture, site, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing proposals for scope and value.
Find inconsistencies, missed requirements, and constructability concerns in the documents.
Clarify code, zoning, and environmental requirements that could affect approvals or timing.
Compare coverage, identify gaps, and advocate for fair pricing and clear contract terms.
The approach
Development decisions are interconnected. A zoning issue affects the schedule. A misplaced utility affects the plan. A weak bid scope affects the budget. Anita brings those threads together early.
Start with the operating model, brand standards, budget, timing, and what success must look like.
Review the site, approvals, infrastructure, documents, and proposed scope through both a design and construction lens.
Prioritize risks, coordinate the right professionals, and give the owner a practical route toward permitting and construction.
Remote by design, with targeted travel and on-site support when the project needs it.
Selected experience
More than 25 years across architecture, owner representation, project management, and executive construction leadership shape every recommendation.
Whataburger
$25M+Helped develop an acquisition-to-conversion due diligence methodology for transforming acquired restaurant properties into new brand locations.
Bojangles
$280MLed a team responsible for new construction and rebuild initiatives, alongside a dedicated remodel program.
McDonald’s
92Organized a five-person team that delivered the strongest regional remodel performance, building on nearly $90M of Greater Chicago experience.
Enterprise advisory
Senior roles through JLL and BVNA/EMG Corporation included portfolio and external project management leadership for Bank of America and McDonald’s Corporation.
About Anita
Anita M. Thomas is a Charlotte-based construction executive with more than 25 years of leadership across restaurant, retail, corporate, and affordable housing projects.
Her career spans architectural design, due diligence, project management, and construction delivery for some of the nation’s most recognized brands. She is known for seeing risk early, bringing the right people into the conversation, and keeping capital decisions grounded in real project conditions.
Anita holds a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. That design fluency, paired with executive construction leadership, gives clients a practical advocate from site evaluation through preconstruction.
View Anita’s LinkedIn profileIn their words
Testimonial 1 of 2, Mohit Kishore.
Start a conversation
Tell Anita where the project stands and what decision is in front of you. She will review the details and follow up personally.
