Kirtland West Side Express opens doors

  • Published
  • By Christopher Bailey
  • Nucleus staff writer
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  Kirtland Air Force Base employees, particularly those on the west side, have a new shopping option.

The Kirtland West Side Express, on the corner of Truman and Randolph Avenues, officially opened Wednesday. It replaces the smaller, original Shoppette at Maxwell Street and Aberdeen Avenue.

Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to Midnight weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends.

At 4,900 square feet, the West Side Express is more than double the size of the original 2,300 square-foot shoppette, which means food and drink options will be plentiful.

"We have gone to a full line of offerings in Snack Avenue," Hallett said on Monday. "We will carry all the coffee and food programs. There will be roller grills for hot dogs and egg rolls, and other food options. Everything AAFES (Army and Air Force Exchange Services) offers at its stores will be offered here."

Hallett said the West Side Express also participates in the "Be Fit" program which will offer a wide variety of healthy foods, including salads, fruits and sandwiches.

Other features of note include twice the number of gas pumps, four, and an increased volume of alcohol and propane tank rentals.

"The gas pumps will be better spaced for vehicles to easily enter and exit," Hallett said. "We'll carry an expanded selection of wines, beer and spirits. Before, we had a limited supply of beer and the top-10 options in liquor."

Hallett said two items are in the works for the near future -- an automated teller machine and a move-rental machine. Base officials are determining if the ATM would be better suited inside or outside the building.

One service the West Side Express won't offer is laundry service. Customers will have to take that to the Mini Mall.

"Because we have doubled in size, we have more than doubled in staff," Hallett said. "We went from five employees to 12. We expect the customer volume to grow considerably, but we won't know the true numbers for six months. Not until we get through the first month of the opening, when coming here is the popular thing to do, and getting through the holiday season."

Funding for the $3.6- million project comes from the Exchange Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program, in which the business provides funding for a variety of services at military installations.

The Exchange, as a whole, gives back two-thirds of its annual earnings to Army and Air Force installations.