{"id":1958,"date":"2015-04-28T13:30:56","date_gmt":"2015-04-28T18:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=1958"},"modified":"2015-04-28T13:30:56","modified_gmt":"2015-04-28T18:30:56","slug":"exchange-unveils-new-wiesbaden-shopping-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=1958","title":{"rendered":"Exchange Unveils New Wiesbaden Shopping Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEMBACH, Germany \u2013 <\/span><\/b>The Wiesbaden community celebrated the opening of the Wiesbaden \u00a0<\/span>Exchange Shopping Center<\/span><\/a> on April 17 on the Hainerberg housing area. The community warmly welcomed the new mall, nearly 60 years in the making.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis <\/span>opening<\/span><\/a> is about the community and how the Exchange is giving back to the Wiesbaden community,\u201d said Col. Geoff De Tingo, commander of the Exchange\u2019s Europe\/Southwest Asia region. \u201cWe\u2019ve been building that relationship for the past 55 years with the other facility, and normally every 30 years there\u2019s an update, but this took longer.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>large crowd<\/span><\/a> of Soldiers and family members filling the main entryway into the mall and into the food court area nodded approval at the mention of the new mall strengthening the Exchange relationship.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span><\/span><\/span>That relationship is with our service members, their families, DoD civilians, and everyone who supports the U.S. Army Europe here in Wiesbaden,\u201d De Tingo said. \u201cMore than that, this goes out to the community to we live, as we\u2019ve brought a one-stop experience that brings what used to be visits to five different areas around Wiesbaden.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The one-stop shopping center promotes green initiatives in design and consolidation. With more than 8,000 square feet of skylights in the mall, food court and the rest of the building, natural ambient lighting provides energy savings. In the future, solar panels will be installed. Consolidating the Mainz-Kastel PowerZone, Toyland\/Four Seasons, and Furniture Store under one roof at the Wiesbaden Exchange Shopping Center enhances sustainability by eliminating the need to drive between the areas, helping save on fuel consumption and wear on vehicles and local roads.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am so pleased the Exchange can give back to the community by opening this shopping center,\u201d said Lt. Col. Tom Davison, deputy commander of the Exchange\u2019s Europe\/Southwest Asia region. \u201cAll the exceptional hard work by the Exchange associates brought this together. They\u2019re the reason the Exchange-to-community relationship works, and they\u2019re the reason that we\u2019re here celebrating this opening.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With the ribbon-cutting complete, Wiesbaden military community members are enjoying a new 155,000-square-foot shopping center housing a main store nearly twice the size of the previous one and a food court with Burger King, Taco Bell, Charley\u2019s, Pizza Hut and Popeyes. The shopping center also includes the USO, bank, credit union and numerous concessionaires, becoming a true community center for Wiesbaden Soldiers and families.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at <\/span>http:\/\/www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/public-affairs\/press-releases.htm<\/span><\/a>or follow us on Twitter at <\/span>https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>###<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Media Notes:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Lt. Col. Al Hing, 011-49- 0151-52560501 or hingaa@AAFES.com.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\t

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