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Andersen commissary extends weekend hours

  • Published
  • By Airman Carissa Wolff
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  To better serve its patrons, the management at Andersen's commissary permanently extended the store's weekend hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 6.

Store managers decided to increase the hours in response to an increasing number of patrons and a 10-percent increase in sales over the previous eight month period.

"With more people buying more goods, the store was getting congested and developing long waiting lines," said Gary Whitmire, Defense Commissary Agency Andersen commissary director.

He said the additional hours will help alleviate the wait times, and the increased sales will help fund the additional hours.

According to Mr. Whitmire, early birds and last-minute shoppers will also benefit from the extended store hours.

"The extension will give those early and late shoppers five more hours during the weekend to shop," Mr. Whitmire said. "Saturday and Sunday are the busiest days of the week at the commissary."

Patrons are satisfied with the extended hours, saying the new weekend hours are meeting their needs.

"I think the extension is great," said Jennifer Lawley, wife of Tech. Sgt. Jermey Lawley, 36th Wing equal opportunity advisor. "The extension allows me to shop before my kids wake up in the mornings on the weekend which allows me to share more time during the day with my family. The hours are also easier to remember now because every day they are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m."

To commissary management, the weekend extension was a no-brainer.

"The extension was needed, so we made it a reality for our customers," Mr. Whitmire said. "It was important we extend the hours because we are here to serve Team Andersen. We're here to provide a service and provide a relaxing shopping experience. The Airmen and their families serve our country. The least we can do is support them to the best of our ability."

The commissary remains closed on Mondays.

For more information on the new commissary hours, call 366-2264.