C-store cold-equipment capex in Tampa Bay 2026 has settled into clear ranges. Beer cave installs scale with door count and box dimensions; frozen drink replacement runs in tight bands by brand; merchandiser refresh budgets depend on door count and brand mix. The numbers below are installed Tampa Bay 2026, not list price or distributor cost.
8'x8' single-door beer cave: $22,000–32,000. 10'x10' double-door: $32,000–48,000. 10'x14' or 12'x14' three-door: $48,000–72,000. Pricing reflects current refrigerant costs, FL-rated panel insulation, condensing unit (R-454A or R-448A), commercial doors with strip curtains, and the labor rate for a Class A A/C Contractor in Tampa Bay.
6'x8' foodservice walk-in: $18,000–26,000. 8'x10': $24,000–34,000. Pricing assumes connection to existing condensing infrastructure or includes a new canopy condensing unit at the high end of the range.
Single-door: $1,800–3,200 installed. Double-door: $3,200–5,400. Triple-door: $4,800–7,800. Five-door reach-in: $7,400–11,800. Brand mix: True and Beverage-Air dominate; pricing is consistent across the dominant brands at equivalent capacity tiers.
Single-barrel FBD 552 / 562: $14,000–22,000 installed. Two-barrel: $22,000–34,000. Cornelius Viper single-barrel: $14,000–22,000. Taylor 152: $14,000–22,000. Three-barrel commercial units run $34,000–54,000 depending on platform.
Manitowoc Indigo NXT or Hoshizaki KM 250–400 lb/day with dispense bin: $4,800–8,400 installed. 600–1,000 lb/day undercounter or beverage station: $8,400–13,800. Outdoor bagged-ice merchandiser (50–80 cu ft): $2,400–4,800.
18-roller commercial grill: $1,200–2,400. Taquito warmer cabinet: $1,800–3,200. Hot-prep cabinet with humidified controls: $3,200–6,400.
Modeled at a typical 3,500 sq ft Tampa Bay c-store with foodservice program: full cold-equipment refresh runs $180,000–340,000 depending on equipment age and brand mix. Phased over 3–5 years instead of single-event capex is the operationally feasible path. Plan around AIM Act phase-down on legacy R-404A equipment first.
Permitting (Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, Brandon all have separate permit fees). Electrical service upgrades if the existing panel can't support new equipment. Ductwork or canopy modifications. Demolition of replaced equipment. Plan 8–15% over equipment cost for these line items on a typical install.
$32,000–48,000 for a double-door 10x10 beer cave, including FL-rated insulation, R-454A or R-448A condensing unit, commercial doors with strip curtains, and licensed-contractor labor.
$14,000–22,000 installed in Tampa Bay 2026 for a single-barrel unit. Two-barrel runs $22,000–34,000.
Modeled at 30 doors total across 4 stores, refresh runs $54,000–96,000 depending on door count distribution and brand mix.
No — permits and electrical upgrades typically add 8–15% on top of equipment cost. Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, and Brandon all have separate permit fees.
Suncoast Cold Systems handles exactly this kind of commercial refrigeration issue across Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon, Riverview, Temple Terrace, and Wesley Chapel. 24/7 dispatch. Licensed Class A A/C Contractor (FL #CAC1824642), EPA 608 Universal, OSHA 30 Construction.
Sizing math behind the install spec.
Brand comparison driving the equipment-selection conversation.
How service contracts protect new install capex over equipment life.