New commissary opens to rave reviews

By Nathan Pfau, Army Flier Staff WriterJuly 24, 2015

New commissary opens to rave reviews
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
New commissary opens to rave reviews
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Joseph H. Jeu, Defense Commissary Agency director and CEO, Bobby Ward, Fort Rucker commissary store director, and Russell B. Hall, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence deputy to the commanding general, cut the ribbon to open the new, state-of-the-... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (July 24, 2014) -- Fort Rucker's new gem is now open to the public as the installation cut the ribbon to a facility that promises to serve 10s of thousands of patrons a month for years to come.

With its pristine floors and state-of-the-art amenities, the new commissary opened its doors during the grand opening of the facility July 15 as thousands came out to get a peek and shop at one of Fort Rucker's biggest projects of the last two years.

"This really rocks to be able to provide you this great facility," said Russell B. Hall, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence deputy to the commanding general. "It took a lot of people together with many, many years of work to bring a facility like this to our Fort Rucker community today."

"Today is the effort of two years of planning, construction and building to bring this new facility to our Soldiers and retirees of the Fort Rucker area," added Bobby Ward, Fort Rucker Commissary store director. "Our old store was 45 years old, so we're bringing an awesome facility that's very energy efficient, and we have everything to offer here, just like you would find in any other grocery store."

The new facility boasts a more modern look, an extra 18,000 square feet of sales floor space, state-of-the-art, energy-efficient amenities and a larger selection or products (more than 12,000 more) to enhance people's shopping experience, said Joseph H. Jeu, Defense Commissary Agency director and CEO.

"I got a good look inside and I can tell you that you have a lot to look forward to," said Jeu during the grand opening. "When you go inside, you'll experience a store designed to make your shopping enjoyable. The store is over 50 percent larger than the old store with wider aisles, and it has all the amenities you'd expect, as well as full service deli and bakery departments."

In addition to the deli and bakery, the new commissary also features an extensive selection of produce, meat, frozen and chilled grocery departments, as well as a sushi-to-go area and a rotisserie chicken area.

"This commissary reflects our country's commitment to taking care of those who serve to take care of our country and those who preserve our freedom," said Hall. "This is about our money being put back into the community to provide a great quality of life for all of us that cherish our nation."

The funding for the new commissary came completely from the 5 percent surcharge that is added to all transactions made at commissaries across Army installations, added Jeu.

"Sometimes I'm asked where those surcharge dollars go," said the DeCA director. "It goes right back into the commissaries. It builds new stores and renovates old ones -- you can see that here today. This store would not be possible without the collaboration of a lot of people here on Fort Rucker and elsewhere."

The grand opening featured sales promotions, prizes and food samplings from a number of vendors, and many patrons couldn't be happier with the updated facility.

"I can't believe how amazing this new commissary looks," said Shanda Jenson, retired military. "They really went all out with not just the look, but what they have to offer the shoppers here. I always shop at the commissary to save money, and now I've got this new great facility to get all my shopping done. I'm just glad that they're really thinking of the community here."

It's that sense of community that Jeu said drives DeCA and the installation to provide the best possible service it can to its members.

"The Defense Commissary Agency takes pride in serving and being an essential part of the military community," he said. "We exist solely to provide commissary benefits to you -- current and retired service members, and your families. It's our goal to make your shopping experience something you look forward to."

"It's been a long time coming," added Command Sgt. Maj. William D. Lohmeyer, Fort Rucker command sergeant major. "When I first got here 13 months ago, this was the major project that we were talking about. So, coming here and seeing it through the various stages and tracking the process, it's great to see it finally come to (fruition). I think this is going to keep more Fort Rucker dollars on Fort Rucker."

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Fort Rucker, Ala.

U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence