Grocery Walk-In Cooler & Freezer Build

A new walk-in cooler and freezer for an independent grocery in Portland — engineered for heavy daily use and installed without closing the store for a single day.

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Project Snapshot

Location
Portland, Maine

Building
Independent grocery store

Scope
Walk-in cooler & freezer, remote condensing units, temperature monitoring

Install
Phased overnight work · store stayed open

The Challenge

More product, aging equipment, no room for downtime

The store was expanding its fresh and frozen selection, but its original walk-in was undersized and its self-contained compressor was failing more often every summer. Each breakdown meant an emergency call and product at risk.

The owners needed more cold storage capacity — and they couldn't close the store or gamble with the inventory they already had.

Our Solution

Cold storage built for the way they work

• Sized a new walk-in cooler and freezer around delivery schedules and peak inventory
• Remote condensing units on the roof to move heat and noise off the sales floor
• New refrigerant piping, defrost controls, and electronic expansion valves
• Temperature monitoring with alarms that alert staff before product is at risk
• Phased overnight installation so the store never closed

The Results

Reliable cold storage with room to grow

Zero closed days

All work was scheduled around store hours, with product moved in stages.

Alerts, not surprises

Monitoring flags temperature drift early, so small issues get fixed before they become losses.

Capacity for growth

The system was sized with headroom for the store's next expansion.

Why MacPherson Werks

Why operators trust MacPherson Werks with cold storage

MacPherson Werks for you means one company that designs, installs, and services your refrigeration — and answers the phone when it matters.

Single-source accountability

We design, install, and service our own systems. No finger-pointing between contractors.

Veteran discipline

Careful planning and clear communication so your operation keeps running during the work.

Brand-agnostic advice

We specify the equipment that fits your product, space, and budget — not one manufacturer's catalog.

Built for the long run

Every system is set up for easy service, with a maintenance plan to protect your investment and your inventory.

Need new or upgraded cold storage?

Tell us what you store and how much. We'll design a system that protects your product and fits your space.