Commercial use is an ENTIRELY different ball game. In the HVAC sizing world the HVAC system must be sized for the load of the structure on the highest load day considering ALL loads.

Commercial kitchens are heavy loads. Atlanta is a heavy load climate.

If the equipment is sized for square footage type load with no consideration of Kitchen equipment, not to mention people load on the structure the system will not keep up. People who like to be comfortable will flee your establishment under these conditions.

In the commercial realm when you rent, you merely rent a shell of a building. Renovations are the responsibility of the tenant in nearly all commercial renting contracts. But this varies... it depends on the contract. Some will build to suit as well as maintain various aspects of the building, but that is not the norm. This is likely why you have no HVAC systems at this place. The former tenant may have replaced them at some point and when they left this building for probably better lease costs, they took the HVAC systems with them.

Either that or the systems were stolen.

My personal opinion on mini splits for a restaurant would be to skip it. If it were to add these for additional spot treatment of hot areas that could work. The biggest problem with mini splits is in nearly all cases of their use it requires more equipment... which in turn leads to more maintenance costs.

If you do not maintain a mini split in a commercial environment: 'IE: greasy kitchen / restaurant atmosphere' the mini split will not work for very long.

'There is no machine that comes with a warranty that doesn't require you to pay for maintenance.'

Maintenance related failures are not covered by ANY warranty.

I know this information is not likely what you want to hear, but you stand a better chance of wasting money on some half baked solution that will not work. Now the picture will be much clearer why so many businesses or start ups fail. Business is tough... you are required to make wise decisions otherwise you will not survive.

Your best bet and wisest decision is to locate a few select 'commercial' specialty companies that specialize in HVAC for restaurants. If you do not tackle this problem the right way it will bite you once summer arrives.

Another option may be to look at leasing options of the HVAC equipment. In these kinds of set ups you merely pay a rental fee for the HVAC equipment and you don't own the equipment you merely lease it much like most do on the building that houses their business. Under this type of contract you want to make sure that maintenance costs and servicing are included under the terms of the lease. That way it will be one less headache you have to concern yourself with. Realize under a leasing arrangement you can't just pick any HVAC provider. These are typically specialty type arrangements... you'll have to search for them.

If you can't afford to do it right. It will shut you down in short order. I wish you well and I hope you heed my advice.