Guardsmen beat taxes at new PX

RALEIGH -- Raleigh's first military exchange store formally opened for business Friday, to the applause of more than 100 N.C. National Guardsmen.

The guardsmen darted in and out of the Reedy Creek Road facility, buying the kinds of items sold at most convenience stores. But there was a big difference -- post exchange stores sell the items tax-free.

Many guardsmen said they previously had to travel to a post exchange store at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville to get the same tax-free benefit.

"This saves gas, money and time," Sgt. 1st Class Linda Horton said.

It's unusual for a post exchange store to be built on a National Guard campus. The stores -- commonly called the PX -- have traditionally been built on bases where active-duty military personnel are stationed, said Maj. Matt Handley, a spokesman for the N.C. National Guard.

Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram, Jr., the adjutant general of the N.C. National Guard, said officials at the N.C. Air National Guard Base in Charlotte, which has its own exchange store, helped push for a store in Raleigh.

"This is your store," Ingram told the guardsmen. "I think word of mouth will make this store very profitable."

Exchange stores use their income to help support programs for soldiers and their families. The remaining money is used to build new stores.

As the ceremony ended Friday, the sales began. With temperatures over 90 degrees, beverages were the hot items. Beef jerky and potato chips also were sold.

With plans to add Pampers and other grocery items, officials don't expect the traffic to taper off anytime soon.