YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The enlisted and officers’ clubs here are raising the prices of buffets, including Friday’s popular seafood spread, due to an increase in the cost of food and transportation, 374th Services Division officials announced.
To offset the impending spike, officials said, the Members First Discount is being increased on buffets offered by both clubs. It’s part of an effort to reward membership.
“That’s our target audience — club members,” said Aaron Feinberg, the Enlisted Club’s assistant manager. “This will enhance the value of club membership — and show a greater value to our club members.”
Club membership dues will remain the same at both establishments, Feinberg said.
At Yokota’s Enlisted Club, it’s currently $4 a month for Air Force servicemembers in ranks E-1 to E-4, and $8 for Air Force personnel E-5 and above, along with Defense Department civilians and servicemembers from other branches.
An Officers’ Club membership costs $15 per month.
Qualified individuals — usually DOD civilians — can grab a dual club membership for $23 a month.
Officials say the buffet price changes are being implemented only at Yokota and won’t affect other Pacific U.S. air bases.
At the Officers’ Club, lunch buffet prices will be changed Tuesday as follows: chef’s choice/Italian every Tuesday and Wednesday — $8.95 with $2 Members First Discount; Mexican on Thursday — $9.95 with $2 member discount; seafood each Friday — $19.95 with $7 member discount.
The lunch buffets previously ranged from $7.50 each Tuesday and Wednesday to $11.95 for the seafood setup, with a $1 club discount applied to all.
The Officers’ Club dinner meal lineup also is being modified starting Tuesday, with Italian night moving to Tuesdays, Mongolian barbecue returning on Thursdays and the cook-your-own nights being discontinued.
Beginning Sunday, the Enlisted Club’s buffet prices for adults also increased.
The Monday through Thursday lunch buffets now will cost $8.95 — with a $2 club member discount; Friday’s seafood buffet — $19.95 with $7 member discount; weekend and holiday all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet — $9.95 with $2 member discount.
Prices originally were $6.50 for the weekday lineup, $11.95 for the seafood feast and $7.95 for the weekend breakfast buffet, with members receiving $1 off each.
Japanese national employees on base will get the discount on all buffets, Feinberg said, since they aren’t eligible for club membership.
“You only have to pay extra if you’re eligible to join the club but choose not to,” he said.
The Enlisted Club’s breakfast buffet on weekends and holidays, available from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., now features a 10-item lunch menu beginning at 11 a.m.
Call DSN 227-8820 or 225-8526 for more information on the changes.
