A fixture at Augusta’s Surrey Center could be going away.
The U.S. Postal Service recently informed owners it is closing the contract postal station at Surrey Center Pharmacy.
“We got a letter from the U.S. Postal Service saying that they were going to be closing our contract station as of Sept. 30,” owner Courtnee Russ said.
The letter included little information and a followup call revealed little more.
“The decision came from Washington, D.C.,” Russ said she was told. “It was a retail operation decision that was not performance based.”
Owners, employees and customers are scrambling to save the postal substation, which has been open for 45 years.
The station sells all manner of postage and supplies. Staff process any sort of mailings. The small post office does almost everything a regular post office does except deliver the mail, Russ said.
Russ said she’s reached out to federal legislators for help. Monday, Rep. Rick Allen issued a statement saying he is “wholeheartedly against” the decision to close the station.
“My office has been in communication with representatives from USPS to better understand what information was used in determining the termination of this contract. I will continue to demand answers for the residents of Richmond County and all those who utilize the USPS location at Surrey Center,” Allen said.
Asked to comment, the postal service offered no explanation other than saying either side can end the contract.
“As per the terms and conditions of a typical CPU contract, either party can unilaterally terminate the contract. If that is the case, local management will properly inform their customers,” offered Tiffany Rowland, a corporate communications spokesperson for the postal service.
Rowland referred questions about potential cuts at the post office to a USPS statement that said ongoing voluntary early retirements are the outcome of agreements with two postal unions and not the work of the Department of Government Efficiency.
The Augusta pharmacy substation has no staff. In fact, the substation costs the postal service almost nothing, said longtime pharmacy manager Earl Wright. USPS pays only for a percentage of sales, not to rent the space or pay staff.
Plus, the customer traffic it drives is a boon to other small businesses, Wright said.
“When post offices close, small businesses close too,” he said.
Wedding planner Kate Sasnett Bailey said her clients would particularly miss the convenience and safety of the Surrey Center substation.
“One of the biggest anxiety moments of a wedding is making sure those invitations get out,” Bailey said. “You can take your time and do all the things you need to do.”
Many on Facebook are urging friends and family to contact representatives in Washington.
- Rick Allen (706) 228-1980
- Sen. Jon Ossoff (706) 261-5031
- Rev. Raphael Warnock (770) 694-7828
