Fifteen years ago this week, Freedom Crossing celebrated its grand opening at Fort Bliss. Termed a “lifestyle center,” the unique Exchange provided traditional Exchange and commissary shopping, a 10-screen movie theater, open spaces for family events, major third-party retailers and name-brand restaurants.
The opening was accompanied by some fanfare: Actress Alyssa Milano appeared during a two-day “Celebrate What’s New at Freedom Crossing” event, described as a “combination grand opening/block party/family festival.” Dancers from the movie “Stomp the Yard,” former NFL star Everson Walls, two Tennessee Titans cheerleaders (promoting a swimsuit calendar) and others appeared during the event.
In planning and construction for five years, the $100 million, 492,000 square-foot, open-air shopping center was designed to serve the growing Fort Bliss population. It’s the world’s only open-air shopping center on a military installation that is open to the public.
“For years, the Exchange has gone where our Soldiers go, and this development responds with more facilities as the Fort Bliss population increases some 60%,” said then-Exchange Commander Maj. Gen. Bruce Casella. “Today, we open the doors to 25,000 active duty, and nearly 6,000 Guard and Reserve members, plus retirees and family members, all the while laying a foundation to welcome those who will join us.”
Built according to the latest environmentally-friendly standards, Freedom Crossing was the first retail development of its kind on a U.S. military installation.
Sources: Exchange Post archives, Newspapers.com, The El Paso Times, https://www.freedomcrossingatfortbliss.com/
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