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Pfc. Latresecia Roberson, a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Garrison Command Soldier, enjoys some lunchtime lo mein at Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss Food Court’s grand opening March 8. Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, due to be fully operational by October, is a landmark public/private venture between Army & Air Force Exchange Service and ServiceStar Development Company, which will, for the first time in history, allow national, regional and local retailers to privately operate within a shopping center on a military installation. The facility will serve as a model for proposed retail developments at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Photo by David Poe, Fort Bliss Monitor.
Freedom with a side of fries and drink
Bliss’ new food court Freedom Crossing opens
David Poe
Fort Bliss Monitor
Fort Bliss servicemembers and their families, along with the extended Bliss community, gathered at Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, a first-of-its-kind post exchange, to help open its food court March 8.
Freedom Crossing is a project that will offer “national, regional and local retailers the opportunity to privately operate within a shopping center on a military installation.”
Army & Air Force Exchange Service welcomed Starbucks, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell, Manchu Wok, Anthony’s Pizza and Baskin Robbins into the fold of the newly built food court wing, with expanded hours that will see Starbucks open as early as 5:30 a.m.
The opening also marked a new main entrance for the state-of-the-art facility. The temporary main entrance next to the pharmacy has closed until further notice and the entrance by Freedom Crossing’s tower was officially opened.
Construction of the food court began in June 2009, and it’s one of many milestones that AAFES and ServiceStar Development Company have surpassed in the approximately 18-month, $100 million public/private venture that is due to be completed in October.
Danaria Farris-McCoy, ServiceStar’s marketing manager, was on hand for the event and said the completed construction of the food court and continuing work on Freedom Crossing has been a labor of love.
Cailyn Chavez, 3, left, mugs for the camera while her mother Anica and little brother Nathan enjoy lunch at Freedom Crossing during the food court’s grand opening, March 8. The trio are the family members of Pvt. Zach Chavez, a 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment Soldier, who joined them for lunch. Photo by David Poe, Fort Bliss Monitor.
“It’s been a lot of work but it’s all worth it when you see people walk in and see the reactions of how impressed and excited people are about the new facility,” said Farris-McCoy.
She said as proud as ServiceStar is of the completion of the food court, it’s only part of the total package that servicemembers will enjoy come October.
“People are excited about the food court and this grand hall,” said Farris-McCoy, “and what will eventually be coming here will just continue the excitement.”
Pvt. Zach Chavez, a 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment Soldier, enjoyed his lunch hour with his family at Freedom Crossing on opening day and said he was appreciative there was such a modernized facility on post.
“This is my first duty station,” said Chavez, “so I’m especially happy to see construction like this. It’s a good place to bring families and will be a good addition to Fort Bliss.”
For more information on Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss and the progress made in the landmark construction project, visit ServiceStar’s Web site at www.freedomcrossingatfortbliss.com. They also welcome you to join their Facebook group named “Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss.”