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Uniform Center Relocates, NEX to Follow

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110310-07
3/10/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexandra Snow, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs

Bethesda, Md. (NNS) -- The Navy Exchange (NEX) Uniform Center aboard National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) relocated to room 1600 in Building 1, March 8.

The shop, which moved from Building 2, will continue to feature a large variety of Navy and Marine uniforms, and will soon introduce an array of items from other services.

"The other services are up and coming, and more items from branches outside the Navy and Marine Corps will be available in the near future," said Nakeesha Tucker, acting NEX Uniform Center manager. "This new location is going to offer customers a larger variety of merchandise. We offer anything pertaining to the Navy uniform. We also offer Marine uniform items for our Wounded Warriors. We also sell reading materials to promote further education and advancement."

Additionally, the Tailor, Embroidery and Engraving shop has relocated to room 1603, Building 1, across the hall from the new store.

"We are offering more of a variety of custom tailoring and embroidery at the new location," said Tucker. "We are available for civilian tailoring and embroidery, as well as military."

"It's always exciting to have a change, and I think this store will better serve our hospital," said Marietta Garrino, NEX Uniform Center sales associate.

Hospitalman Apprentice Leroy Abey, of NNMC's Cardiatric Telemetry, agreed.

"This is a nicer location, and the customer service here is amazing," he said. "They helped me find what I needed right away."

Customer service is something the Uniform Center prides itself on, said Tucker.

"Our customers always have access to an associate," she said. "We also have a red phone at the back of the store that connects directly to the uniform service center. It is available to customers at any time."

The phone is in place to assist customers with questions about NEX products. A hotline is also available to order merchandise not carried in the store. Also on the move, the temporary NEX will open March 18, at its new location near the Navy Lodge.

"The [temporary store] will have the same offering of products, but not the same variety," said Teresa Oyler, NEX general manager aboard Naval Support Activity Bethesda. "We may feature the top two brands or models of merchandise, but because of space constraints, we won't have as wide of a variety."

The 11,000 sq. foot interim shop is less than one-third of the size of the recently closed location; however, when construction for the future NEX is complete, which is slated to be for the 2012 holiday season, the store will feature more than 150,000 sq. ft. of merchandise.

"The new store will feature two stories, a two-level parking garage, food court, Navy Federal branch and several types of merchandise not currently carried, such as, sporting goods and children's clothing," said Oyler.

Oyler said all consumable goods such as toothpaste and hygiene products have been relocated to the NEX gas station. Customers may also shop online 24/7 at www.myNavyExchange.com.

"We're trying to meet the command needs," Oyler said. "The main goal is to serve our customers more on a daily basis for the entire family. We want everyone to have a very pleasant shopping experience."

For more news from National Naval Medical Center, visit www.navy.mil/local/nnmc/.