This closing of Commissaries has been going on for at least 10 years that I know of. Ever since I have been at Bragg there has been talk about the DACA Commissaries closing down. Hell they have even looked at closing the South Post Commissary on Bragg since I've been here, and it isn't that old.
These are my points over this topic.
First the closing is purely base off of money. Local grocery store in and around military bases lose a shit ton of money from the Commissaries. Most of you post Commissaries pull in million of dollars a week. Braggs typically pull in over 4-5 million a week. I know up by DC, one of the smaller post pulls in over 6 million plus a week. Now I can speak for Fayetteville area, not one grocery store in and around pulls in that amount. Even Wally World can't touch any of one of the TWO Commissaries with all four of them around here. Yes, Four Walmarts on a typically week, even with selling TVs, Household goods, Auto, ETC doesn't tuoch your post Commissary that sells only FOOD at near COST. Yes your Commissary sell almost everything at cost, most is only 3% to 5% above. I can't remember anything, meats and dairy or the highest %, but they are not about 8% or 10% above cost. SO YES, IMNSHO, your big money hungry chain grocery stores want ever Commissary closed ASAP. They will contiue to fight to close them, and if no one stands up for active, vets and military spouses. They will be pulled as our country falls apart. Also why do these post Commander or higher ups push to close a Commissary, IMHO, look to see when they are retiring. No off post grocery store can touch the prices of any Commissary IMHO.
Spouses working - Commissaries do pull in a ton of money, PX's I can't speak for. I will say this. There are more enlisted military spouses and teenagers working as clerks and stockers than any Officers Wife. Think about it guys, how many Officers wife would be a clerk. I'm not talking bad aboutthe job or position or to Officers Wives, but think about it. Now a Officers, especially a Col's to STAR LEVEL, would they be working there? No IMO. I've seen a GO HH6 cause all kinds of problems for the Commissary and PX. I've seen one here on Bragg all pissed off that she could go into the Commissary during the early morning retiree and military only time period. Guess what, Well that GO Wife got to go in when ever she wanted. A Bragg's post Commanding General aide-de-camp shopped for the General and had a delivery service for his house too. Going off topic....
"They became to look more like shopping malls"... WHY do you think???!!
American's want things to look pretty and nice. Yes all of us knuckle dragging military types can deal with weahouse shopping. But when the wives are doing the shopping and they head to Wally World to grab the milk or eggs or baby stuff and they see how nice it is. Well they start to bitch. DA is overhualing every Commissary to look more like what a typical grocery store in and around military bases are looking like. They did a survey over what people liked. Well the want something like CLUB FOODs, FOOD LION and yes WALLY WORLD. Like or not, they are in for the money, even if it is close to at cost. How many of you have on your post one of those new Commissary/ PX, movie and restuarant complexes?? Well that's what the military wanted, same as off post, but for on post pricing. Look at Fort Bliss for all of you SOF guys going there for training. All you that gone back to Benning..I can go on for many different post. We, maybe not you, but the military want's it, and they will build them as far as the money is there.
For me, Commissary is a great saving place for my family. I do the shopping every Monday. We save upwards of $50-$80 a week. Gas too for me.. $0.10 a gallon typically, so around $15-$20+ a week. PX, not that much. But I save WHEN I EVER DO SHOP there.
Oh for all of you.. Check with your Commissary, All of Bragg Commissaries are closing on Monday's come REAL SOON, due to government furlough. Remember, not to google or search for Goverment scandals on your Goverment Computers too.