USAG Humphreys Exchange Brings Panda Express to Troop Mini Mall
The USAG Humphreys military community arrived bright and early at the Troop Mini Mall for the grand opening of Panda Express. One shopper even waited outside overnight to be first in line.
More than 100 service members and their families were waiting in line behind him to be among the first to get a taste of home.
“We were fortunate the weather was beautiful,” Exchange General Manager George McNamara said. “We had a hundred-year snowstorm a week ago. Thirteen inches fell on Humphreys. When we did the grand opening, it was in the 60s and sunny.”
USAG Humphreys Chief of Public Affairs Jeff Nagan and Panda Express Vice President of Operations John Zhang joined McNamara on Nov. 13 to welcome the new restaurant.
“There has been a lot of buzz in the Humphreys community about the new Panda Express,” said McNamara, who arrived at USAG Humphreys in June. “I was super excited when I got on ground here and found out there was going to be a Panda Express my family and I could eat at. It really does give you that extra piece of home.”
The first guest received a special edition panda bear, a tote bag and other swag items courtesy of Panda Express and the Exchange. The first 90 guests received a keychain.
McNamara said despite the line, the wait time was short. More than 965 members of the community were served on opening day.
“Even though the line was long, the team was well trained,” McNamara said. “Panda brought in multiple trainers from throughout the world. They were here on ground, shoulder-to-shoulder, with the team, making sure they understood all the tasks required in the kitchen and serving line.”
The Troop Mini Mall location, the 29th in the Exchange’s portfolio of Panda Express restaurants, is the first to open on a military installation in Korea and only the second in the country.
A second Exchange-operated Panda Express is expected to open at Humphreys this year. A third is planned at Osan Air Base.
Aligned with the Exchange’s commitment to support healthy lifestyles, Panda Express offers fresh, low-calorie meals, including beef and broccoli, grilled teriyaki chicken and eggplant tofu.
Celebrating the opening of the USAG Humphreys Panda Express are, from left, Jeff Nagan, director of public affairs at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys; Exchange Services Business Manager Un-Hye Choe; Exchange General Manager
George McNamara; Panda Express Vice President of Operations John Zhang; and Panda Express Manager Shine Lee.
