Is there an adjacent room or hallway that could use the back half or even 2/3rds of the space for a closet, mudroom/entry alcove, coffee station or dry bar?

You're right, there is wasted space. This is typical builder thinking. As Susan says, reducing the depth by giving access to it on the other side would be better. You can install deeper shelves, but then things will get lost in the back. So if you go with deeper shelves you should have pull-outs, but you can't use those on high shelves, so put large serving dishes you don't use too often up high. I also just don't like those wire shelves. Some things don't stand up well on them.

You could put shallow (4" deep) shelves on the side walls to get more out of this space if you keep the shelves they've installed. In any case, you may not be able to get the builder to change this and will have to change it when you move in.

wrap 3 sides beyond the door clearance...[bifold would be better here].....about 8- 10 in deep all 3 sides ...you will walk in and things visible as not too deep and you get a lot more by wrapping around...... figure out spacing height ..what do you want to place.... longer shelves can go on sides if a bifold door were used.....alterntively........if more though were used...an outlet would help with the depth as you could have placed a deep set of drawers/counter and upper cab for a coffee/ storage setup... and make door optional for people [leave it off] you have about a 36 in wide door.....usually pantry doors are 28-32 in or pocket doors so you can use at least one long wall fully.....try for best feature for you....we dont know that part..... limited options..key thing what will you use it for......then adapt the specifications of how to...you can wait a bit to figure it out........

What are the dimensions of this space? I would look into having the door open out so you can use the side walls for very narrow shelves.

Can you reverse the door or have a pocket door installed? I would get rollout shelving and poss shelves on 1 side and def above head on all 3 sides or a min 2 sided to store less used items and use all that space. How wide is the space? Do you need to be able to accommodate „just“ kitchen items or other items as well?

@Susan, funny thing is that the back half was supposed to be a closet and the builder did this instead for some reason. I have no idea why. It’s definitely too late to ask the builder to change it but we’re from out of town so I didn’t catch this little switch around until it was too late. I like the idea of making the door swing out instead of in so that we could possibly use more shelving along the sides of the walls. Or even a bifold door. I’ve never installed bifold doors but this could be a find project

This pantry would only be for kitchen items. It’s right beside a linen closet