What happens to commercial tenant-installed ice cream coolers upon the expiration of the lease?

The correct answer highlights the concept of trade fixtures in commercial leasing. Trade fixtures are items that a tenant installs in a leased space for the purposes of conducting business. Generally, a tenant has the right to remove these fixtures upon the expiration of the lease, provided that the removal does not cause damage to the property.

Ice cream coolers used by a tenant in a commercial setting would be classified as trade fixtures because they are necessary for the tenant's business operations. This classification allows the tenant to take the coolers with them when the lease ends. Trade fixtures are distinct from real property; they are personal property that a tenant installs to facilitate their specific business needs.

In this context, options that suggest the coolers automatically belong to the landlord or must be sold to the landlord do not align with the principles of trade fixtures. Similarly, the notion that the tenant would leave the coolers for a new tenant overlooks the tenant's rights regarding their property, which they are typically entitled to remove. Thus, the answer accurately reflects the rights of a commercial tenant concerning their installed equipment at the end of their lease.