JBLM Unveils $2.8 Million Upgrade to North Express

The Exchange has ushered in a new era of shopping at Joint Base Lewis-McChord with the grand re-opening of the North Express on July 9.

The upgrade includes JBLM’s first Chopz restaurant, its second Hot Stuff Kitchen and third Hunt Brothers Pizza, along with an expanded Snack Avenue and a new walk-in cooler/freezer section. The upgraded Express features nearly 9,020 square feet of interior shopping space. New flooring, lighting, fixtures, signage and interior design elements were also installed, bringing the store in line with the Exchange’s most up-to-date facilities.

The grand re-opening celebration included prize drawings, vendor demos from Coca-Cola, Monster, Echelon, Columbia Sportswear, OLM Food Solutions, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Pepsi, Cascade, Forwarded GE Marketing and Red Bull, who all provided giveaways and free samples so customers could try different items from the store and the new dining options.

A ribbon cutting was attended by COL Joseph Handke, JBLM garrison commander; CSM Kenne Hanson, JBLM, garrison command sergeant major; Exchange Chief Operating Officer/EVP Marla S. Randolph; Chief Master Sgt. Rich Martinez, Exchange senior enlisted advisor; Western Region Senior Vice President Ronny Rexrode; Northwest Regional Vice President Carrie Cammel; JBLM Exchange General Manager Matthew Beatty;  North Express Store Manager Tommie Morey; North Express Assistant Store Manager Mira Dixson; and North Express Shift Manager Carolyn Blas.

The $2.8 million project took six months, bringing a modern shopping experience and the latest dining and shopping options to more than 345,000 Exchange shoppers in the Seattle-Tacoma area.

“We are honored to say, ‘mission complete’ on this expansion and renovation,” Beatty said at the grand re-opening. “We owe thanks to the JBLM garrison and Public Works teams; our Exchange teammates here and at HQ; and the JBLM community that shops here every day.

“We are privileged to serve this community, and these improvements show the Exchange’s continued commitment to serving those who serve.”

For more photos from the store and the grand reopening, check out this Flickr album.