For Soldiers at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey, a slice of home just got heartier.
Pizza Hut opened at the Camp Casey food court in late October as the first phase of a three-part $3.6 million renovation wraps up at the PX.
The upgrades to the shopping center represent the Exchange’s commitment to Eighth Army to continue improving the Quality-of-Life for Soldiers at the installation, which is only 10 miles from the Demilitarized Zone.
“We are going from a dated look to bright and sparkling,” said Real Estate Directorate Senior Vice President Mike Smietana. “The Korea Facility Management Office has done a remarkable job executing the project thus far with minimal impact to shoppers.”
The 55,000-square-foot shopping center was built in 1987 and had only a minor renovation in 2010. Korea’s Facility Management Office, led by Michael Shields, is working as the prime contractor on the project.
The food court renovation marked the project’s first phase and included updating the Burger King and replacing Anthony’s Pizza with Pizza Hut. The dining room was made over with new wall graphics. The tiled floor is now a modern polished concrete, and new drink stations, ceiling and LED lights were installed too. In early 2026, Subway is replacing the Exchange’s lone remaining Robin Hood sandwich shop to round out phase one.
The Camp Casey community has been thrilled with the food court updates—especially the new Pizza Hut.
“Bringing new and modern facilities like Pizza Hut to Camp Casey reinforces our commitment to taking care of Soldiers, civilians and their families,” said Col. Edward Cho, garrison commander, USAG Yongsan-Casey. “Quality of Life isn’t a luxury—it’s a priority, and this opening exemplifies our combined dedication to creating a more comfortable and supportive environment with AAFES.”
Camp Casey, an Army training site, is home to 2,000 Soldiers plus an additional 2,500 who rotate in every nine months, said Korea Northern Exchange General Manager Bryan Smith. Soldiers at Camp Casey are unaccompanied—they don’t have families with them.
“The Pacific Region team, along with our Real Estate, Services and Food and HQ partners, understand the importance of bringing a piece of home to service members,” Smith said. “These updates are our way of standing proudly behind ‘family serving family.’”
The remaining PX updates will be completed over the next two fiscal years. Upgrades to the main store will start in spring 2026, and the shopping center renovation is planned for spring 2027.
Smietana reiterated the importance of upgrading the food court first, saying it was a priority for the command group.
“At Casey, food is king for troops in training,” he said. “The food court gives them a chance to have normalcy in their life. Now, they aren’t eating in a time warp from the 1990s—they have a modern taste of home from the Exchange.”
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