Merchants Bemoan Post Office's Expected Departure

Through rain, sleet, and snow, the mailman always delivers, but Westport residents who have faithfully sent out their letters and packages at the same Post Office for nearly their entire lives are going to have to find a new route. The post office is closing shop at 154 Post Rd. and moving to the Playhouse Square in the near future. 

And that's not sitting well with some local merchants.

"It's terrible. Just a shame," said Joe Canicatti, owner of which is just across the street from the current home of the United States Postal Service on 154 Post Road E. "We are going to lose a lot of foot traffic. Everybody's moving out. It's disappointing."

Disappointed is how Michele Albano felt after hearing the news of the move.  She just opened the door's last month to ,  which sits on the corner across from the Post Office. "It's unfortunate for us. The Post Office is in a good part of town and we had a lot of people stop by our store before or after going to the Post Office. Hopefully, something good moves in." 

The building which houses the Post Office, was designed by WWI hero Lansing Holden and constructed in 1935, is under contract to be sold soon. Tenants are sought for the building, which will likely be subdivided. It's unknown when the USPS will move out.

The downtown building is considered prime real estate despite a lack of parking.

"We're hoping somebody comes in who is creative and has great vision," said Bob LeRose, head of the Westport Downtown Merchant's Association and owner of Bobby Q's BBQ. "A good store or business coming in would be good for everybody." 

The new location of the Post Office is just a few blocks from the old location. The Playhouse Square shopping plaza on 275 Post Road E. will be its new home, and the merchants there are excited.

 "We're a franchise that's been here for about eight months," said Lorena Vinca, manager of Massage Envy. "We haven't gotten a lot of foot traffic here. But we will now and that's going to be good for our business."

However, there are some who are taking a wait-and-see approach to the overall value of having the Post Office in the Playhouse Square.

"It's going to cause a lot of problems with parking,"  said Jim Prybylski, owner of  "And then there's the traffic light out of here. Things are already slow and congested now. It's going to be interesting to see how it goes with the post office here."