Court closure begins Jan. 11; other dining options offered
Eating out on Patch Barracks can be a hassle. If Dad wants a burger, the kids prefer Subway and Mom needs a cup of coffee, there’s no “one stop shop” to get it all done. Instead, the family may have to visit three separate buildings.
Fortunately for this “Patch family,” and every other U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart resident, that’s about to change.
Starting Jan. 11, the current food court — home to Burger King, Taco Bell and Anthony’s Pizza —will close for a $2 million construction project, funded by U.S. European Command and the Army Air Force Exchange Service. The project will transform the current dining area into a food court/mini mall by September 2010.
“We’ve been waiting for years to upgrade this facility,” said Frank Niccoll, AAFES General Manager.
The construction crew has already begun work on the new food court’s glass-enclosed eating area (adding more than 100 additional seats), which will replace the current outdoor tables. When completed, the new food court will house a Subway, Burger King, Taco Bell and a specialty coffee shop and bakery.
For approximately 100 days, the food court will be closed, and new temporary dining options will be available on Patch, including expanded hours at Subway and the Patch Movie Theater snack bar and a mobile Burger King next to the theater. During the food court closure, the theater will add 55 additional seats to the lobby, where theater and Burger King Express patrons can eat.
“Our objective is always to meet the community’s needs, especially during the evening hours, and to take care of people who live here on Patch,” Niccoll said.
Once the new food court opens, Niccoll believes community members will be most pleased with the new atmosphere. The renovated dining area will have new flooring, new lighting and a “false ceiling,” which absorbs noise, as well as new bathroom facilities.
“I think they will like the ambience,” Niccoll said. “It gives us a friendlier environment.”
The finalized mini mall, which shares the building with the food court, is scheduled to be complete in 10 months. The mall will include a laundry/dry cleaning, alteration shop, barber shop, beauty shop, car rental service and a new lounge for the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program.
“You can sit in the food court and, without leaving the building, be able to walk down and get a haircut and drop off dry cleaning,” Niccoll said.
The new facility will not reduce the number of already-limited parking spaces on Patch, Niccoll said.
In fact, he added, the mini-mall makes it possible for community members to park only once. “Once you’re there, you’re there.”
Dining options on Patch beginning Jan. 11:
Subway
Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sat-Sun 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Subway will serve breakfast foods beginning Jan. 11.
Patch Movie Theater
Mon-Fri 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Pizza will be available for lunch and dinner at Reel Time Express
Burger King express (next to theater)
Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Patrons can take their food into the movie theater dining area (55 additional tables).
Doner Kebab stand (next to the theater)
Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
