From left, U.S. Army War College Commandant Maj. Gen. David Hill, Carlisle Barracks Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Jeannette Molina, Carlisle Barracks Exchange General Manager Valerie Bright, PX Department Manager Melanie Morrison and Exchange Northeast Region Vice President Amanda Hartfield cut the ribbon on the Carlisle Barracks Exchange’s $5.2 million renovation Sept. 19. (Photo by USAG Carlisle Barracks Public Affairs Officer Curtis Keester)
CARLISLE BARRACKS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service ushered in a new era of service and support with the unveiling of a $5.2 million renovation to the Carlisle Barracks Exchange shopping center.
U.S. Army War College Commandant Maj. Gen. David Hill, Carlisle Barracks Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Jeannette Molina, Exchange Northeast Region Vice President Amanda Hartfield, Carlisle Barracks Exchange General Manager Valerie Bright and PX Department Manager Melanie Morrison cut the ribbon on the remodeled Exchange Sept. 19.
“To the Exchange employees who made this possible and saw this project through to completion, thank you for your persistence and continued efforts to provide base support to our Carlisle Barracks and surrounding military communities,” Molina said. “You all kept the Exchange open and ready for business for our Soldiers, families and retirees, and your efforts did not go unnoticed. We truly appreciate you and can’t thank you enough.”
The Exchange is the Department of Defense’s largest military retailer. The 40,974-square-foot Carlisle Barracks Exchange offers tax-free shopping and military exclusive pricing to more than 378,000 active-duty service members, military families, retirees, service-connected disabled Veterans and other authorized military shoppers in South Central Pennsylvania, offering a selection of merchandise from national brands such as Calvin Klein, Columbia and more.
The overhauled shopping center features a new food court with Hunt Brothers Pizza, Chopz and Eddie Peppers quick-serve restaurants, as well as a Snack Avenue section offering pre-packaged foods. Other upgrades include new flooring and lighting; a facelift for all main store departments; new in-store BE FIT and PowerZone concept shops; a refreshed mall area with an updated barber shop, optical shop and pharmacy; a remodeled customer service area; and more.
“The store was alright before, but it’s really nice now,” said Navy Veteran and Carlisle Barracks Exchange shopper Lawrence Derr. “I like the way it’s so well-lit, and there seems to be a much greater selection. This is great for the military community, and people will be more likely to shop here rather than outside the gate, which is a good thing because it supports the military, which helps with the recreation activities on the installation.”
Work on the renovation began in February 2020 but was unexpectedly delayed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with construction completed in phases over a period of more than two years. The project was funded by the Exchange, with the post contributing $1.2 million for the remodeled pharmacy and other improvements.
“Today, we are honored to say, ‘mission complete’ on this historic upgrade,” Hartfield said. “This effort, the first major renovation to the Carlisle Barracks Exchange since its construction in 1975, brings a modern shopping experience to the community.”
When the military community at Carlisle Barracks and South Central Pennsylvania shops at the Exchange, they’re making their communities stronger: 100% of Exchange earnings are re-invested in military communities. Approximately 60% of Exchange earnings support Quality-of-Life programs that support service members and their families. The Exchange’s remaining earnings are reinvested in improving the shopping experience, including renovating and expanding the Carlisle Barracks Exchange.
In addition to shoppers with brick-and-mortar shopping privileges, nearly 142,000 honorably discharged Veterans in the South Central Pennsylvania area can verify their eligibility for a tax-free online shopping benefit at ShopMyExchange.com/Vets.
The Carlisle Barracks Exchange, Bldg. 844, Sumner Road, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 717-243-4893.
Social media friendly version: More than 378,000 South Central Pennsylvania-area military shoppers can shop tax-free at military-exclusive prices at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s newly renovated Carlisle Barracks Exchange shopping center, which was unveiled with a grand opening Sept. 19. Read more: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-2c1.
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 54th-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $3.5 billion in earnings for critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.
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Media Notes:
For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Conner Hammett, 214-312-2714 or [email protected].
Follow the Exchange:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopmyexchange
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shopmyexchange
Instagram: @shopmyexchange