Aberdeen Proving Ground Post Exchange

Last visit 12÷04÷11
BRAC has destroyed what was once a very nice military base and has turned Aberdeen Proving Grounds into a civilian military base. Sure there are some uniforms running around, but less than 25% of the uniforms that were there before. The demographics of the few uniforms that are left is drastically changed as well. Almost all active duty posts the majority of uniforms are lower enlisted, young people just starting out. This is not so here at APG anymore, the majority of uniforms now are officers who have been around for awhile.
What does this mean for Base/​Post Exchange, well it means that they are not selling enough to maintain and have to consolidate. Clothing Sales (Military Uniforms) is part of the PX, and it went from large satellite building to being put in the Main PX near the shoe department. Most of the time if you need something now, you will need to order it and wait for delivery. Either that or head on down to Ft Meade, which is transforming as well, but will keep the majority of their junior uniforms.
The PX specialty shops are dropping like flies… The beautician’s shop, coffee shop, sandwich shop, the florist shop, and trophy shop have all bitten the dust within the last several months. The barber shop is hanging on by a thin gray hair, and so too is the pizza place.
When I rejoined the military via the Maryland National Guard 7 years ago, this was a bustling post, filled with a lot of junior enlisted attending one of several AIT (Advanced individual training [job training]) courses. These young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines attending classes/​training and rotated through every 3 – 6 months and many bought new stereos, TVs, computers. etc with each new class that arrived. Now the post has so few uniforms, it is so disappointing to see APG atrophy.
BRAC has not only affected the PX, but it affects the daily lives of the civilian populace that once made their living selling goods and services to these young troops. In their place has come 5000 jobs from Jersey, mostly civilian, but a few military as well, but these people are established and do not need all those new stereos, TVs, and taxicab rides.
I wonder how much longer AAFES (PX) can justify keeping the APG PX open.

The APG PX is in a tricky spot. Since civilians cannot shop in the store, and that’s what makes up the majority of people on APG, the PX is really hurting in terms of profit — and it shows in their lack of inventory.
They have even moved the old Clothing and Sales into the PX.
Inside the PX they have some stuff — a pizza place, hair cuts, dry cleaning, etc.
All in all I’ve seen better PXs on other posts, but for what it is, this one isn’t bad.

For a post that is losing it’s tenants and replacing them with others, this PX isn’t bad. One can certainly tell that it’s there to serve the small contingent of instructors and give them options outside of the local Walmart.
I guess I’ve been fortunate to be stationed at larger posts such as Bragg that would have three PX complexes due to the large population — but Aberdeen’s is lacking. However, it covers the basics and the ladies working there are all solid professionals and good at customer service.