• FORT McCOY, Wisc.
The transformation of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s (AAFES) Fort McCoy, Wisc., Exchange continues as part of a major renovation project designed to modernize the shopping experience for Soldiers, military families, retirees and other authorized customers.
Into late August, Exchange officials said the project remains ongoing, with work continuing throughout the store while customers continue to shop during the renovation.
Despite the construction, the Exchange has remained open. Keeping the store available to customers throughout the project demonstrates AAFES’s commitment to serving its customers while making significant improvements to the facility, Exchange officials said.
The Exchange is an important part of the quality-of-life services available to the Fort McCoy community.
At Fort McCoy, the Exchange complex includes the main Exchange and Military Clothing Sales, an Express, gas station, Class Six sales store, food court and several other services, including laundry and dry cleaning, alterations, a barber shop and contracted services.
RENOVATION
The ongoing renovation is transforming a heavily used facility while maintaining its mission to serve customers.
The renovation began earlier in 2026 and is expected to continue through October. The project includes new polished concrete flooring, new fixtures, a redesigned store layout, updated checkout areas and improvements to the Express and food-service areas.
The food, snack and beverage area was identified as an early priority in the project because of its importance to customers, particularly the large numbers of Soldiers who visit Fort McCoy for training.
The renovation also includes changes to the area that previously separated the Express and main store. Removing that separation will help create a more open store configuration while allowing the Exchange to better integrate merchandise and services.
The existing flooring was more than 20 years old, and the new polished concrete flooring is intended to provide a smoother, more modern surface throughout the facility.
New polished concrete flooring is visible throughout portions of the store, merchandise areas have been rearranged, new fixtures are being installed and work areas remain sectioned off as different phases of the renovation continue.
Another major change is the checkout area. The completed design is planned to include four self-checkout registers and two staffed registers in a centralized location, creating a more open and convenient checkout experience.
Exchange officials said the renovated store will also have a stronger focus on merchandise that meets the needs of troops training at Fort McCoy while continuing to offer many of the products customers have traditionally purchased at the Exchange.
MODERNIZING FACILITIES
These improvements are part of a broader AAFES effort to modernize facilities at remote and isolated military installations.
AAFES announced in January that projects at such locations scheduled from mid-2024 through 2026 represented nearly $92 million in investment directly from Exchange earnings.
The Fort McCoy project is among those efforts, with AAFES funding 94 percent of the total project cost for the Express update that integrates the Military Clothing Store.
Exchange officials said customers should continue to be patient as work progresses through the remaining phases of the project — while the doors remain open for the customers the Exchange serves.
The Fort McCoy Exchange is located in Building 1538. For more information, customers can contact the Exchange at (608) 269-5604.
Source: U.S. Army Fort McCoy, Wisc., Public Affairs Office, via DVIDS
Edited by Larry Lapka
