Moffett Commissary in Mountain View Gets Temporary Reprieve

The military grocery store will remain open for at least two more years after NASA and the Defense Commissary Agency reached a lease extension agreement.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The commissary at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View, California will remain open until at least 2028 after NASA and the Defense Commissary Agency agreed to a two-year lease extension, with an option for an additional one-year extension to 2029. The commissary, which provides discounted groceries and household items to military families and veterans, was at risk of shutting down this year when its previous lease was set to expire.

Why it matters

The Moffett commissary is an essential resource for Bay Area military service members, veterans, and their families, as it offers significant cost savings on food and household goods. The next closest commissaries are over an hour away, making the Moffett location a critical community hub for the local military population.

The details

More than 2,000 people signed a petition to save the Moffett commissary, which has been operating since the 1950s. The extended lease agreement gives officials more time to secure funding and find a new long-term location for the store, as the current building is aging and in need of repairs. Officials are exploring options for a public-private partnership to establish a new commissary on existing federal property in Mountain View.

  • The commissary's previous lease with NASA Ames was set to expire in 2026.
  • The new lease extension will keep the commissary open until at least 2028, with an option to extend it further to 2029.

The players

NASA Ames

The government agency that owns the building that houses the Moffett commissary.

Defense Commissary Agency

The agency that operates the Moffett commissary.

Rep. Sam Liccardo

A local elected official who advocated for extending the commissary's lease and securing long-term funding for the store.

Heather McLaughlin

The organizer of a petition that garnered over 2,000 signatures to save the Moffett commissary, which her family relies on for weekly groceries.

Colonel John Nestor

Of the 63rd Readiness Division, a U.S. Army Reserve command headquartered in Mountain View, who emphasized the importance of maintaining a commissary in the area.

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What they’re saying

“The commissary is not just a grocery store. It's a place where military families can know that the other people that are shopping there understand the sacrifices that military-connected people make. It acts like a community hub.”

— Heather McLaughlin, Petition organizer (mv-voice.com)

“The commissary is a lifeline to many military families and veterans who struggle to afford to live in this very expensive place, and it's also an important community cornerstone.”

— Rep. Sam Liccardo (mv-voice.com)

“This commissary is a critical resource. We are fully committed to preserving this benefit for the community.”

— John Hall, Director of the Defense Commissary Agency (mv-voice.com)

What’s next

Officials with the 63rd Readiness Division are exploring options to establish a new commissary in the Mountain View area, potentially through a public-private partnership that would build a commissary on existing federal property.

The takeaway

The temporary reprieve for the Moffett commissary highlights the vital role it plays as a community hub and cost-saving resource for local military families and veterans. Securing a long-term solution to maintain a commissary presence in the area is crucial for this underserved population.