Different Types of Restaurant Shelving

Restaurant Shelves

There are two components to restaurant shelving units: restaurant shelves and shelving mounts. As the element that determines the shape of the overall shelving unit, choose a shelf shape that accommodates the size of your kitchen and storage space, the types of goods you plan to store, and your restaurant's environment. Below, we outlined the common types of restaurant shelves and their pros and cons for your consideration.

Shelving Materials

A key consideration for restaurant shelving units is the material. The environment of your establishment and storage space affects the longevity of the shelves, so choosing the correct material ultimately saves you money. For example, a location near salt water or a particularly damp environment causes metal shelves to corrode. Check out our list of common shelving materials for insight on which option works best for your kitchen.

Types of Shelving Mounts

The key to understanding the types of shelving mounts revolves around knowing your existing space. Whether you have ample storage space or need to maximize every corner of your busy kitchen, different posts fit with certain environments. Since this element determines a great deal about the design of your kitchen and storage room, carefully read through the pros and cons of each type of shelving mount before buying.

Stationary Shelves vs Mobile Shelves

If you're not sure whether you should go mobile or if a stationary unit will do, consider these few key questions:

Is your space limited? In areas with limited space, mobile shelves can be pushed together to save space during off-hours and rolled apart when employees need to access their contents.

How big is your budget? In general, mobile units are more expensive than stationary units. However, if you have your heart set on purchasing a mobile unit, check out Regency's mobile posts, which come caster-ready but won't break the bank.

Who will be working around your shelving units? Since mobile units require effort to move and maneuver, mobile shelving systems can be a source of risk, especially if you are storing or transporting heavy items. To prevent possible injuries, train your staff on the safe operation of mobile shelving units.

Will your shelving unit be located in a frequently cleaned area? If you're buying a shelving unit for areas cleaned weekly or monthly, consider a mobile unit to simplify the cleaning process. Mobile shelving units provide a flexible workspace, allowing you to move your shelves so floors, walls, and other surfaces can be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.

If you're still unsure, consider purchasing an easily modified unit. This model allows you to easily change the room's configuration to adapt to new storage needs and add more flexibility to menu offerings. However, attaching casters to a stationary post to convert it to a mobile post is not recommended. Typically, these posts do not accept casters, and adding casters will void your warranty for some manufacturers.

Types of Specialty Shelving

If you own a particular kind of restaurant, consider the various types of specialty shelving and how they help your operation. Small kitchens in hole-in-the-wall establishments benefit from wall mount shelving, but high-end restaurants need wine shelving for their illustrious collection. Additionally, some specialty shelves cater to the environment of the restaurant's location with extra features.

Shelving Accessories

In addition to choosing the best shelving unit for your establishment, ensure you have all the accessories you need to streamline your storage area.

• Shelving Casters: Turn your stationary shelving unit into a more versatile mobile shelving unit with shelving casters.
• Wire Shelf Label Holders: Use wire shelf label holders to label ingredients and other stored foods to maintain a functional storage area.
• Wire Shelf Storage Baskets: Create extra storage in your kitchen with wire baskets that attach directly to your wire rack.
• Wire Shelf Dividers: Use wire shelf dividers to divide lengthy shelves into smaller, more organized sections.
• Shelf Covers: Protect your shelves from water, dust, and other airborne contaminants with shelf covers.
• Wire Shelf Ledges: Keep items from falling off the shelf by adding wire shelf ledges to your unit.
• Wire Shelf Hanger Tubes: Attach a hanger tube to your wire shelf to hang aprons, chef whites, and other clothing.
• "S" Hooks: Attach two wire shelving units side by side with an "S" hook.

Popular Shelving Brands

Given the investment required for purchasing restaurant shelves, check out the inventory of popular shelving brands. These companies consistently produce durable, reliable products with restaurant owners in mind. Each company caters to different needs within the restaurant industry, such as easy assembly or antimicrobial technology. No matter which brand you choose, these manufacturers provide durable options with a long product life.

Regency Space Solutions

Regency Space Solutions offers a broad range of shelving units and accessories to fit your needs and budget. They manufacture their shelves, posts, and other components using only the highest quality materials, which makes them ideal for kitchen environments. Regency Space Solutions specializes in durable wire shelving options with an inventory of everything from basic chrome wire units for dry storage to epoxy-coated units that can easily stand up to humid environments.

With Regency's available accessories, it's easy to customize a Regency shelving unit. They also offer shelf kits with all the components in one package prepared to assemble.

Cambro

Constructed from durable polypropylene, Cambro shelving is ideal for businesses in humid climates or near the ocean. This material is corrosion-resistant, lengthening the life of the product. Cambro Camshelving® is a versatile option as well. With several different types of shelves, posts, and other accessories available, these easily adjustable shelving units can be built and reconfigured repeatedly.

Metro

Metro manufactures wire shelves and shelving units with polymer shelves or shelving mats. Some Metro products have antimicrobial technology for superior resistance to mold or bacteria. Popular Metro lines include:

• qwikSLOT wire shelving
• Metro Erecta wire shelving
• Metro Super Erecta
• MetroMax shelving

Check out Metro's shelving infographic for more information about different Metro shelving lines.

Combining Shelving Brands

If you bought Metro Super Erecta posts but later realized that Regency's shelves are cheaper, you can buy Regency shelves even though you already bought Metro posts. With standard wire shelving, most brands can be mixed and matched. You can use a brand's wire shelf posts with a different brand of wire shelves. However, you cannot mix different types of shelves within the same shelving unit.

Where to Place Your Restaurant Shelving

Whether creating a few extra feet of storage space or arranging shelves in your designated storage area, it's a difficult decision how to place your shelving units in your available storage space. First, it's important to store items in practical places. For example, a bulk bag of flour should be stored on a dunnage rack near the floor, while small inventory items, like ingredient canisters, might be best placed on a wall shelf near your prep area.

Walk-in coolers or freezers require special consideration as well. When installing shelving units in these environments, check to ensure they don't block air vents. If your shelves block the air vent, it can cause warm pockets of air to develop.

As for your designated storage area, arrange your shelves to utilize walls, corners, and other available space. However, your storage room design should still make all items accessible. It's also crucial to adhere to health code guidelines, such as storing food items at least six inches off the ground. Check out the video below to see how easy and beneficial it is to add wire shelving units to your storage area.

How to Clean Your Commercial Shelving

Keeping shelves cleaned and sanitized is fundamental to maintaining a safe kitchen environment. Stock up on the shelf cleaning supplies you need like sponges and rubber gloves to tackle the grit and grime that can build up on shelves. To clean refrigerator and freezer shelves, check out our guide to cleaning and organizing your commercial refrigerator.