Good luck on your venture!

As a PT small business owner (antiques & restoration) I soon found out that paperwork can take the fun out of doing the business you otherwise enjoy. Not having operated a restaurant before (though I have worked years ago in a few food businesses), I can’t offer suggestions as to brands, but can say to just research things thoroughly before taking a dive. You probably have vastly more experience than I, but just be sure to investigate things like licensing, zoning, and fire codes (some state’s just require vendor’s and food handling licenses, some require more; as a nurse, I was appalled to find out a certain southern state I frequent on vacation did not require annual TB skin tests or drug testing of restaurant employees).

Any large city usually has a number of used restaurant equipment stores (auctioneers love restaurant liquidations, they get to sell the same site a number of times if they are lucky and the restaurant owner isn’t), which you are already aware of. Ebay can also be a good opportunity to buy used restaurant/business equipment at excellent prices.

Serve a quality product, be nice to your customers, keep a clear paper trail of the money, pick a good location, and you’ll do well.