When a disaster strikes, a retailer’s primary goal is simple: get back to business as fast as possible. But what happens when a tropical storm or heavy rain floods your store with 3 to 4 feet of water, completely compromising critical infrastructure like your refrigeration system?

That was the devastating challenge faced by one of our valued retail partners. The water damage was extensive, requiring a full tear-down and rebuild of the entire store structure. The clock was ticking, and the priority was a swift, expert recovery.

The Immediate Call for Expertise

Having worked with the Hillphoenix AMS Group on past remodel projects, the customer knew where to turn. They reached out to the Hillphoenix AMS team and the Hillphoenix Regional Sales Manager (RSM) simultaneously, confident that we possessed the resources and knowledge to tackle a crisis of this magnitude. Our response was immediate and decisive.

A Dynamic Partnership Leads to Rapid Mobilization

The success of this project hinged on a dynamic, collaborative partnership between the retailer, the General Contractor, and the Hillphoenix AMS Group. This is how the timeline was dramatically compressed:

• Day 1 & 2: Mobilization: Within just two days of the initial contact, the Hillphoenix AMS team was mobilized and ready to work.
• Day 3: Demolition Begins: On the third day, our demolition began. The first critical step was the complete removal of all existing refrigeration equipment which included display cases, piping, and related components. This strategic move cleared the way for the General Contractor to immediately begin the necessary demo and replacement of the walls and structural elements.

 Rebuilding the Entire Refrigeration Scope

The challenge was not a repair; it was a total reconstruction. The Hillphoenix AMS team fully demolished and rebuilt the entire refrigeration system. This was an exhaustive scope of work that included installing all new pipes, cases, rack, and a new gas cooler.

A crucial factor in the project’s unprecedented speed was equipment sourcing. Working closely with the RSM and the customer, the team was able to coordinate and pull essential equipment that was already available in storage, successfully bypassing the current factory lead times.

The Unbelievable Timeline: 3 Weeks to Running

In a normal scenario, a refrigeration rebuild of this complexity is a total system replacement and can take anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks. Our goal was to cut that time down drastically.

The result was an incredible testament to team effort and efficiency:

• The all-new refrigeration system was fully commissioned and running within three weeks of initial contact.
• The store was able to celebrate its grand reopening the very next week.

This remarkable achievement and getting a completely flooded store operational in under a month proves the dedication of Hillphoenix and the Hillphoenix AMS Group. When disaster strikes, our teams are ready to deploy the expertise and resources necessary to drastically shorten recovery time and ensure our retail partners can get back to what they do best, serving their communities.