Quality Supermarkets has taken occupancy of a retail building and has a long-term lease. As part of their fit-up, they bolted to the floor their meat and dairy coolers, shelves and check-out stands. When Quality Supermarkets vacates the property at the end of the lease, will Quality Supermarkets be legally entitled to remove these fixtures?

Trade fixtures are items installed by a tenant for the purpose of conducting business and are generally removable by the tenant. Although the coolers and shelves are trade fixtures, this choice incorrectly suggests that they cannot be removed, which is not the case if they are taken before the lease concludes.

Appurtenances are typically permanent fixtures that are attached to the property and cannot be removed by the tenant without the landlord's permission. This choice mischaracterizes the nature of the coolers and shelves, as they are not appurtenances but rather trade fixtures, which the tenant can remove if done correctly.

While bolting fixtures to the floor can indicate a degree of permanence, it does not automatically prevent their removal. Trade fixtures can be secured in place yet still be removed by the tenant, making this choice misleading. The key factor is the timing of the removal rather than the method of installation.