I probably use this place more than any shop, store or service business here. Why? It's the only store that's open 24/7!
I gas up my car (prices are significantly cheaper than in LA), indulge my weakness for energy drinks (May my kidneys forgive me) and stock up on Stella and Newcastle.
This is the base's own little 7/11 with a more robust alcohol section since it also substitutes as the new Class XI.
They have a decent beer selection and a full aisle for wine (which is more than I would have even suspected). A lot of table-top wine, but I don't think this place has a lot of resident sommeleirs. If there are any out here, they're in the basement hiding from the violent high-desert marauders that rampage the land on their motorbikes (did I mention that they should have filmed the Mad Max reboot here?). The one catch is that alcohol is only sold between 4pm and midnight daily (boo). This applies to everyone: Soldiers, spouses, civilian contractors, free-loading uncles, pets. A decision enforced by Big Brother, I mean, Fort Irwin Commanding General. (If I get selected as a tribute for the next Hunger Games, you'll know why).
Anyway, minimal groceries are in supply if you just need run down the street and buy some eggs or milk or shredded cheese or bacon or a loaf of GMO bread. This is an Army base. I'm sure anything organic would shrivel up and die. The same goes for souls, hope, romance, old episodes of Full House and used Whole Foods bags. Seriously, I brought a couple empty Whole Foods bags from Los Angeles and as soon as I passed the gates of the base, they spontenously burst into flames.
If you want real groceries, go to the commissary (a lot of their stuff isn't that real either). The 24 hour shoppette is for people who need a quick something to eat or if they need to cook but the commissary is closed and they don't have any food left in their fridge and pantries. The majority come here simply because they just don't want to cook. They don't know how or don't care what they eat and can't resist those rubbery hot pockets and hungry man TV dinners and Stouffers brick pizza and Kraft/GMO Mac and cheese. They did try to sell fresh bananas and apples and carrot slices once but a riot ensued and the employees got pelted with twinkies and ding-dongs and Slim Jims.
In all seriousness, the employees have always been nice and they're quick to get your purchase rung up. They're pretty adherent to policy. A geriatric Korean war vet hauling his oxygen tube will still get carded for alcohol. They'll demand to see your ID if you use your credit card and spend a minute looking you, then the card, then at you again and cautiously slide your card. Having been a victim of identity theft once, this doesn't bother me at all. They sometimes often only have one or two people at the register so they can get pretty bogged down during the 20 minute rush before everyone has to be at work or right after work because everyone wants to get beer.
This is walking distance from the town center and all the Pinnacle (scathing review on Pinnacle to come) bachelor apartments. Very convenient.
One thing to note is that this place will always be open, even when there's a power outage (which is often in Fort Irwin). They will never go down and I think Fort Irwin designed it to be this way so this could be a place for emergency supplies and food (power outages here sometimes last for days). They have one of those mega back up generators.
Lots of alcohol: check
Lots of tobacco: check (even though I don't use)
Lots of high-shelf-life food: check
Lots of racks that only sell Maxim and Guns & Ammo and Muscle, Inc: check
Lots of unleaded gasoline and diesel: check
Lots of bottled water and gatorade: check
Back-Up Generator: check
When the zombies rise (stop laughing) I'm headed straight for this place and locking the doors. This place will be the last, lingering outpost of human civilization (seriously, stop laughing).
Until then, it only deserves three stars. read more