Fort Huachuca Commissary customers who regularly shop on Tuesdays will have to plan to shop on a different day effective July 9 through Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2013. The Fort Huachuca Commissary will be closed on Tuesdays when the planned furlough due to sequestration begins the week of July 8.
"The commissary is normally closed on Mondays, so we will be closed on Tuesdays during the furlough," said Judy Mendez, Fort Huachuca Commissary director. On days when the store is open, normal business hours will remain the same.
The decision for Tuesday closures was not made locally. A May 24 memorandum from the Defense Commissary Agency, or DECA, Headquarters, "Furlough Impact on Commissaries," signed by Joseph Jeu, director, said, "commissaries that are normally closed on Mondays will now close on Tuesdays, as well, during the duration of the furlough."
The Fort Huachuca Commissary is not alone. Nearly all commissaries with a few overseas exceptions will close one day each week while the furlough is in effect.
"We know that any disruption in commissary operations will impact your community. During this time you may be assured that your commissary staff, with the support of all of us in the Defense Commissary Agency and our industry partners, are doing all that can be done to assure delivery of a commissary benefit that's worth the trip," Jeu said in the memorandum.
In line with Department of Defense direction, DECA has also imposed a hiring freeze on all outside hires, curtailed official travel for all conferences, training and other events and activities considered noncritical to the agency's mission and cancelled its May case lot sales events.
"We've been in a hiring freeze since February 4," said Mendez, who said the furlough here will impact 66 government workers.
Contractors who operate the commissary's deli, bakery and sushi counters on Tuesdays during the furlough may also be affected.
Mendez echoed DECA Command officials' sentiments that commissary customers will still be able to enjoy the same selection of products, savings, sales and services the days the store is open.
"We are trying [to work on ways] to minimize the impact on our customers," Mendez stated. "Come shop with us on Wednesday through Sunday," she invited shoppers. "Enjoy the savings, and use the benefit."
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