Countertop merchandiser unit with refrigerated and heated compartments and method thereof

A countertop unit comprising:

• substantially transparent front, rear, left side, and right side walls for enclosing and providing visibility into a refrigerated compartment and a heated compartment, the heated compartment located above and abutting the refrigerated compartment;
• a refrigerated compartment access door on said rear side wall and a heated compartment access door on said rear side wall;
• a base located at a bottom of the countertop unit and in contact with bottom edges of each of said front, rear, left side, and right side walls, said base having a bottom surface adapted for placement of the countertop unit atop a countertop;
• a substantially non-transparent left column located at an intersection of said rear wall and said left wall;
• a substantially non-transparent right column located at an intersection of said rear wall and said right wall;
• and
• a refrigeration unit having a weight and located above the heated compartment and delivering refrigerant coolant to said refrigerated compartment, wherein
• said left and right columns facilitate the transfer of a substantial portion of the weight of said refrigeration unit to said base without substantially obstructing the visibility into the refrigerated and heated compartments.

A merchandiser unit comprising:

• a refrigerated compartment;
• a refrigeration unit located above said refrigerated compartment for facilitating refrigeration of said refrigeration compartment;
• and
• a heated compartment interposed between said refrigerated compartment and said refrigeration unit.

A countertop merchandiser unit comprising:

• a refrigerated compartment adapted to be supported by a countertop, said refrigerated compartment is enclosed and includes a refrigerated compartment access door for providing access thereto when open and for enclosing said refrigerated compartment when closed;
• a heated compartment supported above said refrigerated compartment, said heated compartment is enclosed and includes a heated compartment access door for providing access thereto when open and for enclosing said heated compartment when closed;
• and
• a pull-out shelf movably mounted in said refrigerated compartment and extendible beyond said refrigerated compartment access door thereby permitting loading and unloading of said refrigerated compartment.