Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

—————————————————————— ■

Cherry Point, North Carolina

Cherry Point’s mess hall opens for business

By Cpl. J. R. Heins | Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point | September 08, 2014

Photos

Cpl. Alex D. Tiburciocaceres, left, Pfc. Ulysses Jara, middle, and Lance Cpl. Ebrima Sambou enjoy a meal at the newly renovated mess hall at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 9, 2014. The mess hall opened Sept. 1 after a year-long renovation. Tiburciocaceres, Jara and Sambou are all administrative specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron here. (Photo by Cpl. J. R. Heins)

Photo Details

Download

Col. Chris Pappas III cuts the ribbon for the official reopening ceremony of the mess hall at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 5, 2014. Pappas is the Cherry Point commanding officer. (Photo by Cpl. J. R. Heins)

Photo Details

Download

Pvt. Rayvon Williams prepares hamburgers in the newly kitchen of the renovated mess hall at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 3, 2014. The mess hall recently underwent major renovations and features a relaxing atmosphere for patrons. Williams is a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron here. (Photo by Cpl. J. R. Heins)

Photo Details

Download

Cpl. Zachery Schern, left, and Lance Cpl. Brandon Ross prepare meals inside the newly renovated mess hall at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Sept. 3, 2014. The mess hall recently underwent major renovations to modernize the eating facility for Marines and Sailors at Cherry Point. Schern and Ross are both food service specialists assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron here. (Photo by Cpl. J. R. Heins)

Photo Details

Download

The newly renovated mess hall at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point features a relaxing, modern atmosphere and a variety of meal options for Marines and Sailors here. The mess hall reopened Sept. 1 after a year-long makeover. (Photo by Cpl. J. R. Heins)

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point -- Renovations to the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point mess hall officially ended with the opening of a completely refurbished facility Sept. 1.

The renovations modernized Cherry Point’s mess hall and revamped the entire atmosphere, from the mess deck to the kitchen, according to Master Sgt. Danny O’Connell, the technical representative for food services aboard the air station.

“The new dining facility gives Marines a completely new feel as soon as they step through the door,” said O’Connell, a native of Modesto, Calif. All equipment and infrastructure inside the facility is new, said O’Connell.

From stoves and refrigerators in the kitchen to the booths and tables in the dining room, everything is top of the line.

With the new renovations, patrons step into a modern café-like setting rather than a standard cafeteria. According to O’Connell, there was a large effort to get the project done, with the plans for the construction beginning in 2010.

“The new facility will speak for itself,” said O’Connell. “It has met and surpassed all our expectations.”

The renovated mess hall features a wider selection of meal options and a much shorter wait time than the previous facility, said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Corrales, assistant mess hall chief.

“This is by far the best mess hall I have had the chance to work in,” said Corrales, a native of Pittsburgh. “Everything is new. We are definitely going to give you the most bang for your buck.”