MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany is scheduled to re-open Building 7450, named Town and Country Restauratns and Banquet Center, Monday, after eight months of renovations.
The building will house the Town and Country Restaurant, formally known as Crossroads Restaurant and the Town and Country Bar and Grill, formally known as Pin City Snack Bar.
Also, a new Single Marine Facility, located upstairs, has been created to accommodate single Marines and sailors living and working aboard the base.
The Pin City bowling center and Staff Noncommissioned Officers' Lounge is also located in the building.
"The renovation began in the kitchen and was scheduled to take five months to complete," Dick French, director, Marine Corps Community Services, MCLB Albany, said.
The kitchen was gutted and updated appliances such as new stoves, ovens, grills and deep fryers were installed. A new walk-in freezer and refrigerator replaced the ones, which were previously located outside the building.
"The appliances are energy efficient, and the relocation of the walk-in freezer and refrigerator will lessen the burden on the kitchen staff," French said. "The upgrade will provide better working conditions for the employees, which leads to better customer service."
French said the amount spent on the kitchen is $421,000.
"We are very excited to be able to re-open our base restaurant," Kent Morrison, executive director, MCLB Albany, said. "There has been a complete renovation of all of the services in that building. What started out as a complete re-build of the kitchen area has grown enormously. As with any older building, the more you dig into it, the more you find to fix.
"Colonel Terry Williams (commanding officer, MCLB Albany) in conjunction with Dick French, made the decision that while we had it closed, let's do it right," Morrison added. "We have created an atmosphere for our workforce that not only meets their nutritional needs, but is pleasing and comfortable as well."
Patrons will see new menus as well as upgrades to the restaurant's interior, which consists of new paint, wallpaper and ceiling fans, along with new seating and tables. Each table will seat four, but tables may be re-arranged to accommodate more.
"The main dining area renovation cost is approximately $60,000," French said.
A sprinkler system has also been installed as well as a new air conditioning unit for the building.
Town and Country Bar and Grill also received $38,000 in improvements to its service area, French said.
"The old Pin City Snack Bar, now called the Town and Country Bar and Grill, has been renovated with funds provided by the base with the help of Colonel Williams," he added.
The patron area received upgrades to its service counter, which was replaced with state-of-the-art cabinetry, new refrigeration and soda-dispensing equipment.
The renovations, which began in December 2010, cost $750,000, according to French.
The new Single Marine Facility contains a game room, which houses three game stations, a game area for a Wii, plus one for Xbox and Play Station. Chairs in the game stations will be plugged into a screen creating a virtual-reality experience.
The facility also has pool tables, a foosball table, an air hockey table, a computer room with laptop, Wi-Fi throughout the building and a theater with a 65-inch big screen television and 12 recliner chairs.
Marines will also be able to listen to movies on headsets. Additional television sets will be mounted on the facility's walls to provide other programming.
"Everything is absolutely first class," French said.
The four restrooms in the building have also been renovated with all new tile from the floors to the ceilings and new equipment. The cost of the bathrooms is $160,000, according to French.
The banquet center is still be under renovation and will re-open at a later date, he said.
"I am extremely proud of the effort that has gone into this major project and I thank all of those aboard the base who have been so patient," Morrison said. "I know you will see the results were worth the wait."