KMC Express Store officially opens for business

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Holt
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The threat of rain did not stop the members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community who gathered at the new Army and Air Force Exchange Service KMC Express Store grand opening Aug. 31, here.

A ribbon cutting ceremony with Brig. Gen. C.K. Hyde, 86th Airlift Wing commander, Col. Fred Hannah, AAFES Europe-Southwest Asia commander, Jeffrey Crisp, U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern deputy garrison commander, Chief Master Sgt. James Morris, 86th Airlift Wing command chief, John Sharpe, AAFES Europe-Southwest Asia area manager and Airman 1st Class Lesli Jimenez, Airman of the Quarter.

Hyde opened the ceremony with thoughtful words to the AAFES staff and supporters.

"Thank you for representing what you are - a part of this community," he said. "Community is a team endeavor. Thank you for being our faithful partner."

The $7 million, 11,000 square-foot express store equipped with 28 gas pumps, is the biggest gas station in Europe and took only a year to complete.

"Facilities like this enable combat power," said Hyde. "It builds relationships with our families, makes life more convenient and brings us a taste of home."

Open 24/7, the facility also offers customers video rentals, simple housewares and a large snack avenue with a wider assortment of items. It also provides the widest selection of beverages from across Europe housed in 24 large coolers.

"We are delighted to be a part of this community," said Hannah. "We were able to enhance the KMC by combining three facilities into one. We couldn't have done it without the support of the staff and community."

Starting Sept. 5, the new exchange store will be the only operating gas station on Ramstein.