Page 26 - mch0417_Magazine

MWR

“We have a We Proudly Serve Star-
bucks operation for the patrons in
there,” he said. “It is open not only
to the people inside the CRAB, but
there is an entrance on the outside
so that people can come in. We co-
located that to create some synergy
in there to get business from the parents who are in there for
the playgrounds so they can get a cup of coffee for when the
kids are playing.”
The CRAB also has a snack bar with convenience items
like pre-made sandwiches and hot dogs on a roller grill.
“With the Wi-Fi, mom and dad can sit at the tables there,
enjoy a cup of coffee, and the kids just go and play,” said
Spinnenweber.
The CRAB has also become a gathering spot for young

families. “What is really nice about this facility, because of
how open it is, you will rarely go in there and find a mom
sitting alone while her kids are playing,” said Hutchens. “It
is a spot for moms to get together with other moms. It is very
conducive to play dates.”
There were a few concerns before the facility first opened.
“One of the things that initially we weren’t sure about was use
during the week while school was in,” Spinnenweber. “That
has not been an issue, because there are a lot of homeschoolers
in there. Stay-at home moms will drop off toddlers and they
are all meeting. There is a gathering area and it is a natural
place to socialize.”
Another concern was whether the base community would
take to the name. “Sometimes you worry if you name a facil-
ity, is your community going to take to it?” said Hutchens.
“It really was a homerun in that everybody knows what you
mean when you say you are going to the CRAB. We have re-
ally done a very good job of branding this facility with that
crab logo for people to identify with it. It is definitely a model
facility for the Navy.” —MCH

26 MILITARY CLUB & HOSPITALITY | APRIL 2017