Partnerships took flight April 17 as Team Vance and Exchange leaders united for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the grand reopening of the Vance AFB Troop Store.
The ceremony was attended by Col. Joshua Lundeby, Vance Air Force Base 71st Flying Training Wing commander; Col. Carl Miller III, deputy wing commander; Chief Master Sgt. Harvey McReynolds Jr., wing command chief ; Rebecca Santee, Exchange Central Region senior vice president; Vanessa Rowland, Exchange North Central Region vice president; Paili Howard, general manager; and Patti Passmore, store manager.
“Today’s opening reflects what strong partnerships can accomplish,” Lundeby said. “The new BX is more than a facility—it’s an investment in our Airmen, families and the Quality-of-Life that directly supports mission success. Together with the Exchange, we’re proud to deliver a space that supports the dedicated families and professionals we rely on to train the world’s best pilots.”
The 30,481-square-foot store’s upgrade wrapped up in just five months. The store, originally built in 1983 and last upgraded in 1992, now boasts a walk‑in cooler, customer lounge, refreshed décor, an expanded Military Clothing department and three restaurants: Chopz, Hunt Brothers Pizza and Express Kitchen.
“The addition of the three restaurants allows the Vance Exchange to expand its selection of better-for-you choices to support nutritional readiness,” Rowland said.
The upgrade was a cross-functional effort that began as an idea sketched on a paper towel in 2019 and was led by Exchange directorates including Real Estate and Central Region and Tinker AFB associates. The $3.5 million upgrade was funded mostly by the Exchange, with the Air Force contributing $615,000.
“During my tenure as general manager, region leadership visited the facility, and we realized the initial renovation plan for the Vance Troop Store wasn’t ideal for customer engagement—it was based mainly on sales and foot‑traffic patterns and included a wall separating the Express,” Rowland said. “The paper‑towel sketch is what ultimately opened the door to an open floor plan concept.”
The store made $13,000 in sales on its first day, with Snack Avenue one of the leading departments.
“Team Vance is proud to serve nearly 7,000 eligible Exchange shoppers, including service members, Veterans and their families in the northwestern Oklahoma area,” said Rowland. “This image upgrade showcases the Exchange’s commitment to supporting the needs of our Nation’s heroes by providing them with the resources necessary to remain mission ready.”
Share your thoughts!