A customer makes a purchase at the Crossroads Shopette at Yokota Air Base, Wednesday. The Shopette will close June 20 for approximately six weeks for renovations. (Christopher B. Stoltz / Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The Crossroads Shoppette on the base’s west side is shutting down Monday for a six-week renovation project, Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials said.
Residents searching for that caffeine fix, DVD rental, case of beer or bag of potato chips now will have to hit the next-best option — the Box Office Video Shoppette, located behind the Yokota Community Center. That store is moving to a 24-hour schedule to accommodate the extra customer traffic.
“It is important that AAFES continues to make improvements on the quality of life for our airmen and their families,” said Flishia Bailey, the Yokota Exchange general manager. “Upgrading the facility would bring the Crossroads Shoppette up to AAFES standard.”
That includes replacement of all fixtures and an upgrade in the facility’s overall appearance, to include new floors and additional lighting.
Once the work is complete, officials said, they’ll overhaul the Box Office Video Shoppette and east-side store. AAFES is spending $365,000 on improvements at the three facilities.
While the shoppette behind the YCC is staying open 24 hours during the west-side closure, AAFES officials said, alcohol sales basewide will continue to end at 11 p.m. as part of a Yokota command policy. The east-side shoppette’s hours of operation remain 6 a.m. to midnight.
AAFES plans to address the Box Office Video Shoppette soon after renovation of the Crossroads store, which then will be open around the clock to ease the customer crush.
Officials said they haven’t determined exactly when the east-side shoppette will be closed for the upgrades.
