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Bases embrace national chains
By Karen Jowers
[email protected] ytimes.com
Fancy a juicy prime rib at Outback Steakhouse? How about a stack of hot buttermilk flapjacks at International House of Pancakes? A heaping plate of nachos at Chili’s?
Soldiers may soon get all that and more without leaving their installations.
A contract for a Chili’s restaurant at Fort Hood, Texas, has been submitted for review to the Defense Department, said William Bradner, spokesman for the Army’s Family and MWR Command.
And the Army’s third Huddle House restaurant is scheduled to open at Fort Benning, Ga., in December, he said, following the opening of other Huddle Houses at Fort Polk, La., in 2007 and Fort Gordon, Ga., in 2004.
The Marine Corps has a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant at Camp Butler, Okinawa, but has no plans to expand its roster of casual dining facilities, said Bryan Driver, spokesman for Marine Corps Personal and Family Readiness Division.
The Air Force has several namebrand restaurants overseas, and more are coming, said spokesman Kenny Pruitt.
There are Chili’s restaurants at Osan Air Base and Kadena Air Base, and one being built at Yokota Air Base. Ramstein Air Base in Germany has a Romano’s Macaroni Grill.
More potential sites are being explored, and Pruitt said Air Force officials will look at other options for offering airmen “new and innovative casual dining.” Navy officials did not respond to questions by press time.
The Army issued a solicitation for proposals for name-brand casual dining restaurants on a larger scale, with the idea of bringing “a little bit of home” to soldiers and their families, said Ronald Heuer, chief acquisition officer for Army Nonappropriated Fund Contracting, during a briefing at the American Logistics Association conference Oct. 22.
According to the Army’s solicitation, the goal is to bring nationally known restaurants on post “to meet the increasing demand for food and beverage sit-down dining concepts for soldiers and their families, and other authorized patrons,” Bradner said.
The Army plans to open these full-service restaurants on more than 20 installations. The Family and MWR Command anticipates awarding one or more contracts.
Officials are performing site visits around the Army, Heuer said, looking at places where prospective restaurant owners either could build a facility or take over an existing facility.
He said the response has been encouraging, with interest from Outback, Chili’s, IHOP, Denny’s, Macaroni Grill and about a dozen other name-brand casual dining restaurants. Ë
SHEILA VEMMER/S TAFF
While the Burger King at Balad Air Base, Iraq, is a popular option for chow, the military is looking to add more-upscale restaurants to bases around the world.
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By Karen Jowers
[email protected] ytimes.com
Fancy a juicy prime rib at Outback Steakhouse? How about a stack of hot buttermilk flapjacks at International House of Pancakes? A heaping plate of nachos at Chili’s?
Soldiers may soon get all that and more without leaving their installations.
A contract for a Chili’s restaurant at Fort Hood, Texas, has been submitted for review to the Defense Department, said William Bradner, spokesman for the Army’s Family and MWR Command.
And the Army’s third Huddle House restaurant is scheduled to open at Fort Benning, Ga., in December, he said, following the opening of other Huddle Houses at Fort Polk, La., in 2007 and Fort Gordon, Ga., in 2004.
The Marine Corps has a Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant at Camp Butler, Okinawa, but has no plans to expand its roster of casual dining facilities, said Bryan Driver, spokesman for Marine Corps Personal and Family Readiness Division.
The Air Force has several namebrand restaurants overseas, and more are coming, said spokesman Kenny Pruitt.
There are Chili’s restaurants at Osan Air Base and Kadena Air Base, and one being built at Yokota Air Base. Ramstein Air Base in Germany has a Romano’s Macaroni Grill.
More potential sites are being explored, and Pruitt said Air Force officials will look at other options for offering airmen “new and innovative casual dining.” Navy officials did not respond to questions by press time.
The Army issued a solicitation for proposals for name-brand casual dining restaurants on a larger scale, with the idea of bringing “a little bit of home” to soldiers and their families, said Ronald Heuer, chief acquisition officer for Army Nonappropriated Fund Contracting, during a briefing at the American Logistics Association conference Oct. 22.
According to the Army’s solicitation, the goal is to bring nationally known restaurants on post “to meet the increasing demand for food and beverage sit-down dining concepts for soldiers and their families, and other authorized patrons,” Bradner said.
The Army plans to open these full-service restaurants on more than 20 installations. The Family and MWR Command anticipates awarding one or more contracts.
Officials are performing site visits around the Army, Heuer said, looking at places where prospective restaurant owners either could build a facility or take over an existing facility.
He said the response has been encouraging, with interest from Outback, Chili’s, IHOP, Denny’s, Macaroni Grill and about a dozen other name-brand casual dining restaurants. Ë
SHEILA VEMMER/S TAFF
While the Burger King at Balad Air Base, Iraq, is a popular option for chow, the military is looking to add more-upscale restaurants to bases around the world.
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fun drunkin times in Korea...plus they served korean food and well, donuts. 
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