Exchange Opens New Express and Troop Store at Camp Parks

The Parks Reserve Forces Training Area welcomed a new Army & Air Force Exchange Service Express and troop store Oct. 11.

The new location, replacing a smaller troop store, features 4,000 square feet of shopping space. It includes a wider assortment of food and beverages, a Hunt Brothers Pizza, barbershop, PRIMO water refill station and in-store pickup for ShopMyExchange.com orders.

Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas, Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Soto and Acting Deputy Garrison Commander Jerry Silva joined Exchange Western Region Senior Vice President Ronny Rexrode, Regional Vice President Robert Rice, Travis BX General Manager Cathie Byrns and Store Manager Fa’ Tufono for the grand opening.

From left: Exchange West Coast Vice President Robert Rice, Travis BX General Manager Cathie Byrns, Supervisor Charlene Sanchez, Customer Experience Associate Wendy Lopez, Facility Manager Fa’ Tufono, Supervisor Kaysi Delgado, Garrison Commander Lt. Col. Marisol Chalas, Roving Store Worker Cameron Ellis, Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Soto and Exchange Western Region Senior Vice President Ronny Rexrode.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, command requested more merchandise for the housing community and Soldiers who were unable to leave base due to the lockdown,” Tufono said. “Our sister facilities assisted where they could, but there was not enough storage space for everything to remain at Camp Parks. This made it clear how vital a larger facility was for our community.”

Plans for the new $2.9 million project funded entirely by the Exchange were finalized in late 2022, with construction completed approximately eight months later.

The store, which caters mainly to Active Guard Reserve Soldiers, Department of Defense civilians and those within the base housing community, previously served nearly 6,000 shoppers monthly. Camp Parks also routinely welcomes those assigned to the base for training with the Noncommissioned Officer Academy, 80th Training Command and Basic, Advanced or Senior Leadership Courses.

“This new facility is an amazing upgrade for the Camp Parks community,” Byrns said. “We are thrilled to welcome this new store and provide an enhanced shopping experience for service members and their families.”

The ribbon cutting for the new location featured giveaways and product samplings for those in attendance.

Located at 677 Powers St., the new store is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 Saturday and Sunday.