The Schweinfurt, Germany, commissary is expected to reopen on Sept. 6 or sooner after repairs are made to its roof.
“That’s our target date,” said Kay Blakley, a spokeswoman for Defense Commissary Agency-Europe. “We will work as hard as we can make sure that happens, or even before then.”
The problem was detected Thursday after employees noticed that some ceiling tiles were sagging. Engineers from the garrison and commissary agency then found that one of the roof’s wooden trusses was collapsing, according to garrison spokesman George Ohl.
The commissary, located on Askren Manor, was closed Thursday afternoon. Since then, the garrison has arranged for shuttle buses to bring shoppers from Schweinfurt to the Würzburg commissary on Leighton Barracks.
The local shoppette and post exchange have increased their supplies of essentials such as bread, milk and diapers.
“The people handled it OK, and the community and brigade staffs are trying to help these young people figure out where they can go to get their groceries,” Ohl said. “Everybody is working to make it as easy as possible.”
About 11,000 Americans live in the Schweinfurt area, which is home to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Some of its soldiers have already deployed to Kuwait for an upcoming rotation in Iraq. The rest of the brigade is expected to head downrange soon.
The commissary is in an area for junior enlisted family housing. It also serves single soldiers who live in Ledward and Conn barracks as well as various officers, civilians and retirees in the area.
Blakley said that none of the commissary’s coolers or freezers were affected.
