NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain — The Navy Exchange Service Command is taking over the office supply store in Rota in an effort to provide better service to base commands.
It is a move that could spread to other bases in Europe.
The Navy Exchange in Rota will open the first NEX Depot in Europe on Tuesday. It is only the second shop of its kind in the Navy. The other is at the Navy base in Yokosuka, Japan.
The store in Rota will be similar to a small OfficeMax or Office Depot and will sell a variety of office supplies, from pens to printers.
The NEX Depot in Rota will replace the old Uncle Sam’s store, which also sold business items for commands.
Gerald Outar, the Navy Exchange general manager in Rota, said store employees hope to provide better and faster service at the new store. On Friday, workers were putting the finishing touches on a jazzed-up sales floor and stocking the shelves for Tuesday’s grand opening.
A new sign with the depot’s logo is outside the store, which is housed in the base’s main supply warehouse.
Outar said that other base Navy Exchanges could possibly copy the takeover by the NEX Depot in Rota, but it would be the choice of the individual commands.
The Navy Exchange Service Command operates 100 stores at Navy bases worldwide. It also operates 100 stores on Navy ships.
