Millions in commissary renovations done by January

The shopping experience inside the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Commissary has changed drastically. There's evident construction: the front entrance has moved temporarily, store aisles have been blocked off or rearranged, there's new energy-efficient equipment in both the frozen food and chilled food sections, and new lighting.

The biggest change: increased selection and variety on the shelves.

"I shop here almost daily, so of course I've noticed the new equipment and other upgrades," said U.S. Army Sgt. Hector Calbenti, a shopper the Pentagram talked with in the frozen food section. "The commissary is starting to look like the competing grocers off base. It's more appealing, a much-needed addition to the already much lower competitive prices, which is why I shop here."

The five percent commissary surcharge Calbenti and other shoppers pay at the register is what funds the approximately $6 million in upgrades currently happening at the JBM-HH commissary, which began five months ago, according to Raymond Lane, JBM-HH commissary officer.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), which ensures customers like Calbenti save on purchases compared to off base grocers, authorized the five percent surcharge in 1983, to cover the cost of upgrades and build new commissaries like the $38 million new commissary set to open at Fort Belvoir.

"It's part of surcharge dollars at work," said Anthony Moody, JBM-HH commissary supervisor of store associates. "The surcharge goes towards the entire customer experience--renovations, bags, shopping carts--it's a holistic benefit."

"We're upgrading and expanding all store refrigeration, retiling the entire store floor and ceiling, enhancing the amount of produce, meat, dairy, frozen food--and increasing the chill sections and displays to reflect the healthier buying patterns that our customers want," Lane said. "It's going to be a win-win for the customer and the government. Cutting costs for everyone."

The JBM-HH Commissary will also have new color schemes and signage that will be more synonymous and uniform with commissaries at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; Naval Support Activity Annapolis, Maryland; and others under the DeCA umbrella. Moreover, the layout of the stores will be the same, according to Lane.

"Commissaries run on customer service," said Lane, who has spent four decades overseeing facilities in the National Capital Region. "If we do not meet the demands of our customers, they won't shop here, or they provide bad feedback to headquarters. An improved facility means demands will be met."

So far, the JBM-HH Commissary produce and meat sections have already been expanded and upgraded with new equipment. Within the next two weeks, upgrades to the dairy and frozen food sections will begin; the bakery section will be upgraded within the next six to eight weeks, according to Lane.

Furthermore, it is the intent of commissary management to minimize the inconvenience to customers to the greatest extent possible. Different areas of the commissary will routinely be blocked off and temporary walls will serve as a safety barrier for shoppers until renovations are complete in January.

"We benefit customers the most when we provide them with a well-stocked shopping flow," Lane said. "And customers should expect an unlimited selection in the near future."

"Take advantage of the savings found in your local commissary," Calbenti said. "My wife and I can attest to the benefit you get in the long run."

May is Military Appreciation Month at the JBM-HH Commissary. On May 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. shoppers can take advantage of savings of up to 50 percent on items purchased during the Defense Commissary Agency's spring Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale event. Visit https://www.commissaries.com/case_lot_sale.cfm, to learn more.

Pentagram Staff Writer Arthur Mondale can be reached at awright@dcmilitary.com.