• FORT LEE, Va.
Burgers are back on the menu here at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) food court as a Freddy’s eatery officially reported for duty with its June 4 grand opening.
The new restaurant — the first Freddy’s in the Exchange’s portfolio — expands everyday dining choices with a category Soldiers and their families have been missing.
Also, the new restaurant carries additional significance because Freddy’s namesake, World War II veteran Freddy Simon, served in the Army with the 1st Cavalry Division. Simon was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart for wounds sustained during his deployment to the Pacific Theater.
This grand opening followed a soft opening in April.
“Freddy’s is a great fit for Exchange diners, and we are honored to welcome the first Freddy’s to the Exchange family right here at Fort Lee,” said Fort Lee Exchange General Manager (GM) Lajima Marshall-Pierce. “This opening introduces a new burger option for diners to enjoy.”
SMALLER FOOTPRINT
Unlike traditional Freddy’s restaurants, which typically operate in larger, stand-alone spaces, the Fort Lee location was designed for a compact space of about 185 square feet inside the food court.
To fit in with the smaller space, the Fort Lee PX and Freddy’s team streamlined the kitchen and menu, focusing on core favorites like steakburgers, chicken sandwiches and tenders, hot dogs, fries and frozen custard.
MENU OPTIONS
Freddy’s — like all Exchange restaurants — also serves Better-For-You (BFY) options, such as bread-free bowls, lettuce-wrapped sandwiches and veggie burgers.
“Menu options were part of the decision to bring Freddy’s on board,” said Denise Bauduy, Exchange services business manager. “The space is small, so the restaurant offers a limited menu, but our teams were able to make it into what it is now.”
Col. Rich Bendelewski, Fort Lee garrison commander, said the Exchange’s food offerings are a vital component to living and working on Fort Lee.
“As the garrison aligns with the Army’s shift toward performance-driven nutrition, we’re excited to see the Exchange evolve their offerings alongside us,” Bendelewski said.
“Providing everyday options that actively power the force is essential to the garrison’s commitment to improving the quality of life for our Soldiers, families and civilians,” he added.
EARLY RETURNS
More than 200 orders were received during the grand opening day. Since its soft opening, Freddy’s has seen more than $152,000 in sales.
Guests were treated to samples and given swag during the grand-opening celebration.
“Instead of having to drive off the installation for lunch, the community has more options on-installation,” Marshall-Pierce said. “I’ve heard people say, ‘I’m not leaving my office because I’m going to get stuck at the gate,’ but now they have more options in the food court to have lunch.”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
