Starbucks open for business at Sheppard Mini Mall

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

Must-have items could mean the difference between mission success and failure, and for some, that could be a good old-fashioned cup of joe.

For others with a more sophisticated palate, a steaming cup of brew — or iced, for that matter — with a creamy whip and anything-but-coffee-taste is the preferred beverage morning, day and night. That thirst can now be quenched at the new Starbucks coffeehouse, which opened Jan. 22 in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Mini Mall located in Bldg. 740 at Sheppard Air Force Base.

Alex Foronda, food court manager at the Mini Mall, said bringing the Starbucks concept to Sheppard as well as moving Military Clothing Sales and Alterations from Bldg. 649 to Bldg. 740 will provide a better service to military members here. In addition to the new stores in the Mini Mall, a wall between the game room and food court was taken down to extend the food court dining area.

“This is what they (management) have been wanting to do for a while now,” he said. “So, finally they decided it was time to update the Mini Mall, especially the dining room.”

Renovation and construction began in late-September, early-October, Foronda said.

Starbucks can be accessed from within the Mini Mall as well as a door on the H Avenue side of the facility. Customers can get to Alterations from the dining area of the food court, but they will have to go through the Express BX to get to Military Clothing Sales.

Foronda said the new Starbucks has been popular among Airmen, especially with it being a short distance from the dormitories.

Starbucks hours of operation are Sunday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-midnight.