{"id":10145,"date":"2024-02-27T19:54:42","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T19:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=10145"},"modified":"2024-02-27T19:54:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T19:54:42","slug":"grafenwoehr-panda-express-records-biggest-opening-in-army-air-force-exchange-service-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2024\/02\/27\/grafenwoehr-panda-express-records-biggest-opening-in-army-air-force-exchange-service-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Grafenwoehr Panda Express Records Biggest Opening in Army & Air Force Exchange Service History"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. ARMY GARRISON BAVARIA <\/strong>\u2013 Service members and families eager for a taste of home made the opening of the Grafenwoehr Panda Express<\/a> the biggest in Army & Air Force Exchange Service history.<\/p>\n

Customers began lining up nearly two hours before the restaurant opened<\/a> on Feb. 20, and lines continued out the door throughout the day.<\/p>\n

There were several dignitaries in attendance to celebrate the opening, including USAG Bavaria Deputy Garrison Commander Dwayne Key; Panda Express COO Patrice Nazaret; Panda Express Area Manager Matthias Krotky; Panda Express International Franchise Manger Andy Chan; and CEO of Lagardere Travel Retail, a third-party business that brings popular chains to airports and other hubs, Jochen Halfmann. Exchange Europe Regional Vice President Stephanie Burns; Brian Smith, former Grafenwoehr Exchange general manager who recently PCS\u2019d; Acting General Manager Maria Hood; and Services Business Manager Patricia Jamison represented the Exchange at the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mission of the Exchange is to make life better for our service members and military communities,\u201d Burns said. \u201cFor those assigned overseas, familiar things like favorite restaurants and brands are a huge morale booster and connect our customers to their families and friends back home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Opening-day sales surpassed the Exchange\u2019s previous largest restaurant opening, a Five Guys that opened at Kaiserslautern Military Community in 2022. This is the second Panda Express location in Europe, with the first opening at KMC in 2022.<\/p>\n

Panda Express, like all of the Exchange\u2019s 1,500 restaurants, offers better-for-you options such as string bean chicken breast, steamed ginger fish and steamed broccoli. The restaurant is in Building 612 and is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>Service members and families eager for a taste of home made the opening of the Grafenwoehr Panda Express the biggest in @shopmyexchange history. Read more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-2DD<\/a>.<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

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<\/sup>-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<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Marisa Conner at 214-312-5111 or connermar@aafes.com.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

U.S. ARMY GARRISON BAVARIA \u2013 Service members and families eager for a taste of home made the opening of the Grafenwoehr Panda Express the biggest in Army & Air Force Exchange Service history. Customers began lining up nearly two hours before the restaurant opened on Feb. 20, and lines continued out the door throughout the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":10147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[311,323,25,315],"tags":[160,174,107,477,35,32,593,476],"class_list":["post-10145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe-region","category-grand-opening","category-press_releases","category-sfd","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-exchange","tag-grafenwoehr","tag-military","tag-nobanner","tag-panda-express","tag-usag-bavaria"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2024\/02\/27\/grafenwoehr-panda-express-records-biggest-opening-in-army-air-force-exchange-service-history\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Grafenwoehr Panda Express Records Biggest Opening in Army & Air Force Exchange Service History","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2024\/02\/27\/grafenwoehr-panda-express-records-biggest-opening-in-army-air-force-exchange-service-history\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2024\/02\/27\/grafenwoehr-panda-express-records-biggest-opening-in-army-air-force-exchange-service-history\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/Panda-Express-Grand-Opening-20-Feb-9-e1709063380296.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/02\/Panda-Express-Grand-Opening-20-Feb-9-e1709063380296.jpg"},"articleSection":"Europe Region","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marisa Conner"}],"creator":["Marisa Conner"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army & air force exchange service","exchange","grafenwoehr","military","nobanner","panda express","usag bavaria"],"dateCreated":"2024-02-27T19:54:42Z","datePublished":"2024-02-27T19:54:42Z","dateModified":"2024-02-27T19:54:42Z"},"rendered":"