A Starbucks, an upscale spa and a sports memorabilia store are part of a small shopping center that Fort Belvoir plans to open this week, a project that heralds a greater commercialization of some on-base amenities.
The Fort Belvoir Town Center, which officially opens Wednesday, features 11 new businesses on the sprawling base’s north post. Belvoir spokeswoman Jennifer Albert said the center is modeled off other non-military commercial developments.
“It does look very much like Old Town Alexandria,” she said.
Also included in the town center are a Shoppette, RAC Military Rentals, The Cleaners, a watch/clock gift store, a cigar shop, a barber shop, a GNC and a furniture store. Above the businesses, the base will open 25 residential units for military personnel, Albert said.
The intermingling of residential and retail space at Belvoir is a new concept Army-wide, she said.
