Malmstrom Commissary — Local services in Great Falls

I’m a frequent shopper at the MAFB Commissary and normally my visits are good. That is if you enter the commissary before 1830. The staff is insistent to let people know they close in 30 min, or 15 mins before you even walk in. Guess they assume I’m going in to get a cart full of groceries when in fact I only needed 5 items. Additionally, the staff seems to have a playful demeanor with other staff members. Unprofessional horseplay. Ex. as I was checking out, Jeremy was supervising the self-checkout. He seemed to be waiting for me to finish my transaction and conversing with another employee on the other side of the register from mine. Then out of the nowhere he slams a money bag in front of me on top of the monitor and says, ”you told me to put it there” (referring to the other employee). Mind you he is standing uncomfortably close next to me to do this.

The commissary is convenient for base dwellers and have decent prices. However, expect to be rushed if you arrive close to closing...

I'm not sure how a public review helps with a military grocery store, but I'll go with it . . . The commissary is pretty well stocked and has a good assortment of most foods you'd want to go buy from any grocery store. The prices are fairly competitive with most any store in town, and somethings, like frozen foods, spices, and bread, are a pretty great deal usually. The one thing that kills me about the commissary is the sales tax. Yes, yes, I know it's called a "surcharge", but it's an added flat percentage tacked onto your bill before coupons are applied. How is that any different from a sales tax? They will tell you that it pays for bags and such, but if I bring my own bags, use the self-checkout, and take it out to my car on my own, then maybe I shouldn't have to pay the "surcharge". In a state like Montana that doesn't have any sales tax off base, this extra 5% makes it hard to want to go...

Overall one of the less impressive commissaries I've been too. I suppose since the base is smaller than others I've been at (Minot, Randolph, Vandenberg) I should expect a smaller selection, but it is still sorely lacking. And with no sales tax in the state of Montana, and a Walmart Supercenter right off base, there are better, and less expensive, options close enough.

Small positive update for the commissary (June 2024). I have tried the deli sandwiches you can order at the counter and they are pretty stinking good. Would recommend if you are looking for a change of pace from Subway/Popeyes in the Bx...