On Base
Bolling boasts one of the Defense Commissary Agency's most modern facilities, offering a complete selection of meat, dairy products, produce frozen foods, fresh seafood, deli items and fresh bakery items. The award-winning commissary also includes hot foods and in-store banking (Bank of America)
The commissary accepts cash, personal checks, travelers checks, money orders, a variety of debit and credit cards, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) payment instruments, Food Stamps, either as coupons or Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) payment instruments (issued as checks, drafts, vouchers, warrants, or EBT by different states), and American Red Cross Disbursing Orders. They also accept coupons and manufacturer rebate/refund checks.
Directions to Bolling AFB Commissary
A disabled patron may enter the commissary to start shopping up to a half-hour before the time the store opens. Disabled patrons may also exercise "head of line" privileges when checking out.
The Base Exchange mall concessions include a barbershop, florist, nutrition shop, optical shop, car rental, wireless telephone, watch & jewelry repairs, beauty shop and a laundry/dry-cleaning/alterations shop. The main exchange has 48,000 square feet of shopping space with one-stop shopping for the family, including outdoor needs. The AAFES military clothing sales store operates adjacent to the commissary and has a concession alternation shop within.
The AutoPride/Shoppette features a state-of-the-art car care center, gas station, shoppette, Class 6 store, video/DVD rental and a Dunkin'Donuts facility all under one roof.
Volunteers from the Air Force Officers Wives Club operate the thrift shop on Bolling. This shop features a large selection of items for sale including appliances, furniture, house wares, clothing, uniforms, books and a wide variety of decorator items.
Off Base
While there are a few exceptions for specific products, generally speaking the consumer sales taxes in the National Capital Region are as follows: D.C. - 5.75%, Virginia - 5% and Maryland - 5%.
If you are looking for the closest shopping opportunities to Bolling, travel south. Within five miles along Route 1 South you can find many businesses and restaurants such as: Target, Gold's Gym, Wal-Mart, Outback Steakhouse, Peking Duck Restaurant, International House of Pancakes, Pizza Hut, Chuck E. Cheese, Hair Cuttery, Dunkin' Donuts, Home Depot, Lowe's Home Improvement, Staples, Office Depot, Michael's Crafts Store, Books-A-Million, Franks Nursery and Crafts, Giant Foods, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Safeway, Blockbuster Videos, a variety of dry-cleaning and laundry facilities, multiple fast food eateries, a Multiplex Theater, etc.
From Bolling's south gate turn right, go straight (through two lights) and merge onto I-295 South. Then take I-95/495 South toward Richmond, VA. You will cross the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. As soon as you cross the bridge take the first exit and then take the 3rd ramp marked Fort Belvoir Route 1 South.
Another great route to find shops and another Wal-Mart is as follows. From Bolling AFB turn right and merge onto I-295 (as described above). Take I-95/495 North to Baltimore, MD. Take exit 7A, Branch Ave./Route 5 South. Stay on this road for approximately 20 minutes to get to Wal-Mart. If you keep going along Route 5, past Wal-Mart, for about 5-10 minutes, you will find a mall called St. Charles Towne Center on your right. This is a good-sized mall with many popular stores, including Sears, JC Penny, Kohl's and Hecht's.
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Bolling AFB, is also home to a wide variety of restaurants and shops.
While all of the above offer great shopping and eating opportunities, the most popular major malls in the National Capital Region are Springfield, Potomac Mills, Landmark, Crystal City, Tyson's Corner, Potomac Yard, and Pentagon City.