The Oct. 15 grand opening of Panda Express at Kadena Air Base drew early-morning crowds and shattered multiple international records for both the Exchange and Panda Express.
Excitement began early, with customers lining up as soon as 6 a.m. and 144 guests counted at opening. Lines stretched out the door throughout the day. By closing, sales reached $30,064, breaking the previous international Panda Express opening-day record of $22,672 set at Grafenwoehr in 2024.
“This opening is an important part of the Exchange’s mission to bring a taste of home to the Okinawa military community,” said Col. Jason Beck, Exchange Pacific Region commander. “When you’re thousands of miles away from friends and family, something as familiar as American-Chinese cuisine can really lift morale. Panda Express hit the ground running and delivered strong results.”
The momentum continued through the week, with first-week sales totaling $177,735, setting a record for Panda Express worldwide in a food-court setting.
“The addition of Panda Express generated so much excitement from the community; I loved seeing the happiness of the service members and their families,” said Sgt. Maj. Thomas Terry, Pacific Region senior enlisted advisor.
According to the Panda Express team, the Kadena location now leads their international portfolio in:
- First-day sales (international)
- First-week sales (international)
- Food court sales overall (Panda Express)
“Panda Express has nearly 40 locations worldwide within the Exchange’s portfolio,” said Danita Jones, Exchange vice president of food. “Name brand restaurants like Panda Express bring the best tastes of home to military communities while helping the Exchange fulfill its ‘We Go Where You Go’ promise.”
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