re: Architect recommendations (BR area) for small business design?

This is more complicated than you might think.

A tenant buildout can run almost the same as full construction. Even small stores can run 200-300 hundred thousand dollars in buildout costs depending upon what the mall requires. There is also a LOT that goes into store arrangement and fixtures. The lighting alone can be very particular.

Not to sound ridiculous, but often the simple spaces or good looking stores you see required a fair amount of work for them to look right. Just having a contractor wing it typical isn't successful.