JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The Army and Air Force Exchange Service celebrated the Lewis Main Exchange’s grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Sept 28.
“Today, we are honored to say, ‘mission complete’ on this historic $72.6 million expansion and renovation,” said Matthew Beatty, Exchange general manager. “Because of pandemic delays and other unforeseen challenges, this project has been three years in the making.”
This is the first major renovation to the Lewis Main Exchange since it was built in 1995. The upgrades includes:
New flooring, lighting and fixtures
An upgraded military clothing store in the mall
The addition of Starbucks (the 100th military location)
The first Petco on a military installation
The Exchange’s first Bath and Body Works shop worldwide
New additions to the retail lineup in the mall
New restaurants including Slim Chickens, Subway, Arby’s and Charleys.
Beatty said these improvements will bring an enhanced and modern shopping experience to the Exchange, making this nearly 296,000-square-foot shopping center feel like a store the customers would see outside the installation.
John Cole, a retiree and a longtime shopper at the Exchange, stopped by to see the improvements.
“I came to see what they’ve done,” Cole said. “I was on this base in 1997 when it was still brand new, and now it’s changed magnificently. They’ve really expanded everything, they’ve got a lot of new items and they’re clearly providing for the service members.”
Stacie Sterling, Lewis Main Exchange manager, said the upgraded Exchange is a destination point for our community.
“This is basically a community center -- where we are family serving family,” Sterling said. “It’s a one-stop shop. Everything’s been consolidated into one building. Everybody can come in and pick up everything that they need and then be on their way.”
The money you spend with the Exchange comes right back here through dividends to support Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs, according to Beatty. Last year, shopping at the Exchange generated more than $5.7 million for on-installation programs.
Additionally, the improvements will help the Exchange better support quality-of-life for more than 345,000 military shoppers, their families, retirees, service-connected disabled veterans, and other authorized shoppers in the Seattle-Tacoma area.
“Thank you to all the AAFES senior leadership and the JBLM garrison leadership that are here today,” said Col. Phil Lamb, JBLM commander. “Thank you for all of your patience and perseverance because I know it has been a long process to get this massive facility (upgrade completed) -- the number one facility of its kind.”
"exchange" - Google News
September 29, 2022 at 04:33AM
https://ift.tt/mokrDyF
Lewis Main Exchange celebrates grand reopening | Article | The United States Army - United States Army
"exchange" - Google News
https://ift.tt/zWRTrLl
https://ift.tt/szYlD5d
Exchange
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Lewis Main Exchange celebrates grand reopening | Article | The United States Army - United States Army"
Post a Comment