As the designer or planner for your new store or remodel, you're faced with a decision when it comes to your cabinets: Metal or Wood?

There are characteristics of both that you may want to consider before making this decision.

Let's first begin by discussing metal cabinets. They're not all that bad. Metal is durable. Metal is resilient. And metal can take a beating. There's a reason that metal cabinets go well in a back-of-house kitchen environment. And there's also a reason why the back-of-house kitchen is traditionally in the back, behind the scenes, out of sight. It's a dirty place where food is made and liquids spill.

Today's convenience stores are taking on the role of a quick bite when filling up, where you can get a good sandwich or hot meal in minutes. We're seeing C-Stores now that are a favorite place to stop for breakfast or lunch. Gone are the days when you may need to make two stops; one for gas, and one to feed the kids on the way to practice. 

Considering those two environments in your favorite neighborhood store, it's easy to see where metal cabinets are needed. But have you ever paid attention to what separates the two? You've no doubt looked through a beautiful sneeze guard into the food prep area. But what always plays the role of a "boundary"? What always plays the lipstick to the pig?

It's wood. 

But why? Why not continue the metal cabinetry into the space where Mr. Blue Collar grabs a lunch, and Carpool Mom does her shopping? What is the benefit of the drastic change in material on those nicer stores popping up at most interstate exits? It's simple when you think about it. It's the experience. When it comes to creating a welcoming environment, where the customers wait and have the opportunity to look around, you'll never be able to achieve with metal, what you can with wood.

• Wooden cabinets are seamless. You'll rarely see the visible gaps and seams in a wooden foodservice counter that are inescapable with metal cabinets. Wooden cabinets allow for continuous, seamless transition between doors, cabinets, and any other adjacent surface.
• Wooden cabinets allow for contours. Do you envision a large radius checkout or foodservice counter? Do you need to create a smooth arc? Metal cabinets are made in such a way that in order to create a curve, you're stuck with a series of flat surfaces. It (sort of) works, sure. But it's just not quite there.
• Wooden cabinets, when engineered with the convenience store environment in mind, can be just as strong and built-to-last as it's metal competitor. At Merchants Fixture, we have seen it all, and we have learned what works and what doesn't. Our cabinets are more than just a purchase order. We hang our hat on our projects. We know that years after we walk off a job site, our customer will have something to say about our cabinets. Why not make it good?

Traditionally, metal cabinets have been merely utilitarian in nature, and wooden cabinets are often thought of as a less durable showpiece. At Merchants Fixture, we don't see why you can't get both. Granted, you may not want to put a laminated wooden cabinet next to your fryer. But when you have an opportunity to impress your customers and at the same time achieve the reliability of metal, what's stopping you? Some antiquated conventional rule that metal cabinets work better and last longer? Times have changed, friend. And so have convenience stores.

Final thought: as more and more drivers go electric, we forecast an ever-increasing need for a truly welcoming environment for those drivers as they wait for their vehicles to charge. A place to relax, drink coffee, scroll their phones, and probably eat. Stores will begin to take on a new role; that of a gathering place. What would entice them to want to wait inside instead of in the car, and maybe spend some money? Well, probably a space that doesn't feel so utilitarian and not very warm.