Carlisle Barracks Exchange Unveils $5.2 Million Shopping Center Renovation
The Exchange ushered in a new era of service and support with the unveiling of a $5.2 million renovation to the Carlisle Barracks Exchange shopping center.
U.S. Army War College Commandant Maj. Gen. David Hill, Carlisle Barracks Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Jeannette Molina, Exchange Northeast Region Vice President Amanda Hartfield, Carlisle Barracks Exchange General Manager Valerie Bright and Department Manager Melanie Morrison cut the ribbon on the 40,974-square-foot Exchange on Sept. 19.
“To the Exchange employees who made this possible and saw this project through to completion, thank you for your persistence and continued efforts to provide base support to our Carlisle Barracks and surrounding military communities,” Molina said. “You all kept the Exchange open and ready for business for our Soldiers, families and retirees, and your efforts did not go unnoticed. We truly appreciate you and can’t thank you enough.”
From left, U.S. Army War College Commandant Maj. Gen. David Hill, Carlisle Barracks Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Jeannette Molina, Carlisle Barracks Exchange General Manager Valerie Bright, Department Manager Melanie Morrison and Exchange Northeast Region Vice President Amanda Hartfield cut the ribbon on the Carlisle Barracks Exchange’s $5.2 million renovation Sept. 19. (Photo by USAG Carlisle Barracks Public Affairs Officer Curtis Keester)
Work on the renovation began in February 2020 but was unexpectedly delayed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with construction completed in phases over a period of more than two years. The project was funded by the Exchange, with the post contributing $1.2 million for the remodeled pharmacy and other improvements.
“Today, we are honored to say, ‘mission complete’ on this historic upgrade,” Hartfield said. “This effort, the first major renovation to the Carlisle Barracks Exchange since its construction in 1975, brings a modern shopping experience to the community.”
The overhauled shopping center features a new food court with Hunt Brothers Pizza, Chopz and Eddie Peppers quick-serve restaurants, as well as a Snack Avenue section offering pre-packaged foods. Other upgrades include new flooring and lighting; a facelift for all main store departments; new in-store BE FIT and PowerZone concept shops; a refreshed mall area with an updated barber shop, optical shop and pharmacy; a remodeled customer service area; and more.
“The store was all right before, but it’s really nice now,” said Navy Veteran and Carlisle Barracks Exchange shopper Lawrence Derr. “I like the way it’s so well-lit, and there seems to be a much greater selection. This is great for the military community, and people will be more likely to shop here rather than outside the gate, which is a good thing because it supports the military, which helps with the recreation activities on the installation.”
The Carlisle Barracks Exchange serves more than 378,000 active-duty service members, military families, retirees, service-connected disabled Veterans and other authorized military shoppers in South Central Pennsylvania.
In addition to shoppers with brick-and-mortar shopping privileges, nearly 142,000 honorably discharged Veterans in the South Central Pennsylvania area can verify their eligibility to shop tax-free online.
Senior Public Affairs Manager Chris Ward contributed to this report.
