Large crowd turns out for BX opening

  • Published
  • By Corey Dahl
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
Less than an hour after the new Base Exchange opened June 6, Kristin Verhovec had already declared herself a fan.

Browsing large aisles stocked with everything from paper towels to iPods, Ms. Verhovec, whose husband is stationed at Schriever Air Force Base, said she's already planning to be a frequent customer.

"I didn't go to the old BX a lot, maybe once or twice a month," she said. "I'll definitely be coming here more often now, though."

She's likely not alone. A large crowd of shoppers lined up around the building for the BX grand opening, eager to get a glimpse of the new store as well as take advantage of opening-day sales and sweepstakes.

The steady stream of shoppers poured in throughout the day, greeted by Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders as well as AAFES employees, who handed out samples of chocolates and ice cream.

"I'm just amazed," Maj. Gen. Bill Essex, commander of AAFES, told the crowd prior to the store's opening. "I can see that you're really ready for this store."

The new 60,000 square-foot facility nearly doubles the size of the old BX, which was last updated in the 1980s. It also features several new food court restaurants, including Taco Bell and Starbucks, and a market area with services such as a five-window pharmacy, a nail salon and barber shop, and a bank.

Base officials anticipate the new BX and commissary, which is slated to open Aug. 3, will draw roughly 5,000 customers a day once they're both open - a mix of active duty servicemembers, reservists and family members, as well as many of the area's retirees.

Retired Master Sgt. Barney Hunter said he plans on being one of them. After shopping at the old BX since 1990, he said he and his wife have been waiting eagerly for the new BX to arrive.

"The other BX parking lot was always crowded," he said. "It was pretty small, the aisles were tiny and it never had much of a selection."

Glancing at the sprawling rows of sunglasses, flat-screen TVs and designer hand bags around him, Mr. Hunter added, "I don't think we'll have that problem here."

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