Naval Exchange Renovations Add Frozen Foods, Furniture and Barber Shop

Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach unveiled changes to its Naval Exchange Wednesday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The old Exchange was reduced in size from 30,000 square feet to 7,000 to create more of a convenience store feel and add more services, like moving the barber shop inside and adding a discount furniture store.

The renovation began last January and cost $600,000, said Robin Joseph, the Navy Exchange General Manager.

The previous store was much larger than it needed to be, he said, and as a result the Exchange was losing money, so changes were made to shrink the store down to a reasonable size and get people in and out faster.

Also added to the store is a Grab 'N Go station like that you may find at a 7-Eleven, where take away sandwiches, fresh fruit and other parishable items can be purchased. Frozen foods were also added.

Seating space at the Subway in front of the Naval Exchange has grown from three to fifteen places to sit.

Half of the building has been converted to a furniture store where sailors and their familes can purchase couches, love seats, dining room sets and bed frames. The new furniture will come from Naval Base San Diego at half the price of items there, Joseph said.