YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Golden Video, in the Yujo Community Center, closed its doors Wednesday ahead of a major renovation that will convert the center into a multimedia facility for Yokota dorm residents.
The video store’s inventory of 3,500 DVDs is being turned over to the base library and will soon be available for free checkout, according to Stephen Zak, Community Support Flight chief for the 374th Services Division.
“The library will go through those and try to figure out how they’ll display them,” he said Wednesday. “They’re excited to provide the service for the base community. It’s a great place for it. People can check those things out and enjoy them free of charge. That’s a nice bonus.”
Beginning Thursday, games and DVDs can be turned in through a drop box in the Yujo. The deadline to return rented materials is 6 p.m. Saturday.
Afterward, they must be returned to the Information Ticket and Tours office and appropriate late fees will be assessed.
Zak said the former Golden Video space will be transformed into a private theater for unaccompanied servicemembers, part of the new Airman’s Center at Yokota.
In 2006, base officials announced an effort to upgrade Yokota’s dorm areas as part of a 20-year facilities plan. A cornerstone project included in that was creation of an Airman’s Center.
The location also is expected to feature video games, LAN and Internet capabilities, a sound system, dance floor, pool tables and shuffleboard.
