AAFES Car Care Center to close

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Connor Estes
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The RAF Lakenheath Car Care Center is set to close and will stop services on Oct. 1.

The Liberty Wing has taken steps to ensure a minimal drop in services and provide alternate means for customers to meet their car care needs.

"Automotive merchandise from the car care center will relocate to the RAF Lakenheath Shoppette in Building 650 next to the bowling alley," said Larry Salgado, AAFES General Manager. "The shoppette's current automotive section will be expanded and have a staffed service counter where customers can order tires, batteries and order parts from the U.S. or U.K. Propane tanks can be filled at the 24-hour shoppette by the gas station, which is already up and running."

Liberty personnel can also continue to have their vehicles serviced on base through the auto skills center. Some services it offers include oil changes, tire and tune-ups.

"The 48th Force Support Squadron Auto Skills Center will continue their service bay operations, maintain the current level of automotive services available to our community and will prepare to accommodate the increased demand for automotive services," said Bill Ripley, AAFES Retail Business Manager.

According to Ripley, pre-existing tire service agreements will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and handled in a fair and equitable manner. Warranties for batteries will be honored at the shoppette.

Some customers have asked to know the reason for this closure.

"In the past eight years, nearly $1 million has been lost. These are funds that could have been contributed to morale, welfare and recreation to benefit Airmen," said Salgado.

Recently, RAF Mildenhall went through similar changes when its car care center closed Aug. 26. Automotive parts were moved to the Bxtra and service needs will be met by the auto skills center.

AAFES hopes the new location will dispel the concerns people may have about the car care center closure.

"The main thing we want people to know is that there's no reason to feel uneasy," said Salgado. "We're not leaving the community without the ability to have their vehicle repaired."