Camp Humphreys and Kadena AB Hold Bath & Body Works Grand Openings
Within a week’s time, the two biggest Exchanges in the Pacific Region—Camp Humphreys, Korea, and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa—held grand openings for the Bath & Body Works stores for their military communities.
Camp Humphreys held their grand opening Nov. 25, Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
“The grand opening was a huge success because it was held at noon, which allowed our customers to take part in the main store sales and have enough time to attend the grand opening,” Camp Humphreys General Manager Vanessa Rowland said. “The atmosphere was incredible; I enjoyed watching customers get excited to see the Bath & Body Works store open just like what they would see stateside.”
From left, 18th Communication Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Mark Walkusky, Pacific Region Senior Enlisted Advisor Generose Green, Pacific Region Commander Col. Jason L. Beck, Pacific Region Senior Vice President Karin Duncan, Regional Vice President Larry Salgado, Okinawa General Manager David Swenson, Bath and Body Works Manager Abigail Straka and Kadena Exchange General Manager Flor Payton celebrate after officially cutting the ribbon at the Dec. 1 grand opening ceremony of Bath and Body Works at Kadena Exchange.
On Dec. 1, Kadena AB held its grand opening, six days after Camp Humphreys.
“Bath & Body Works is another huge taste of home enhancement for our customers in Okinawa,” Kadena Store Manager Flordeliza “Flor” Payton said. “It’s an honor to be part of an organization that brings stores like this that give our service members, family members, retirees and all DoD authorized shoppers on the island more shopping options.”
Pacific Region Senior Enlisted Advisor Sgt. Maj. Generose Green, one of the keynote speakers for the grand opening, said that Bath & Body Works is one of her favorite stores to shop at back in the States.
Pacific Region Senior Vice President Karin Duncan celebrated the event, which also served as her last grand opening ceremony, before she retires at the end of December from the Exchange after 35 years of service, 12 of those within the Pacific Region. This grand opening was her 368th ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I am proud of both my teams as they continue to serve their military communities,” Duncan said. “I can’t see a better way to retire than by participating in a grand opening ceremony that brought in one of America’s most popular stores.”
The Bath & Body Works stores at both locations gave the first 200 customers travel-size hand sanitizer, hand lotion, and hand cream as a gift of appreciation.
