Five Points post office won’t re-open until January

The Five Points post office knocked out of commission by October’s flooding will not re-open until January.

But customers looking to mail gifts before the holidays at what is normally one of Columbia’s busiest post offices aren’t out of luck.

A one-man mobile station parked outside the branch on Greene Street can accept letters and packages of any size and sell postage, said Harry Spratlin, a district communications coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service.

Customers with P.O. boxes at the Five Points office will have to go to the Edgewood post office at 2638 Two Notch Road to pick up mail or gifts sent to them.

Though the vast majority of the retail and entertainment village near the University of South Carolina didn’t feel the brunt of the powerful rainstorm Oct. 4, up to two inches of water flooded through the Five Points post office, Spratlin said.

Mold developed in the two weeks after the flooding, complicating the renovation process. Work on the post office is expected to continue until Jan. 8, Spratlin said.

He said more work is needed on a layer of tile beneath the floor level.

“The goal is to prepare the building in case another flood happens sooner, rather than later,” Spratlin said.

Spratlin said in November the renovation would include repairing or replacing the building’s damaged walls and flooring.

“We apologize to our customers for the additional delay,” Spratlin said. “We’re doing everything possible to facilitate a rapid return to the building.”

No equipment, furniture or mail was damaged or lost to the flooding, Spratlin said. The mobile station was brought in from Atlanta soon after the flood.

The process of cleaning up the building and preparing for re-opening has been time-consuming because U.S. Postal Service buildings must adhere to “strict federal structural and environmental requirements,” according to a letter from Columbia Postmaster Walt Rowland.

U.S. Postal Service customers with questions or concerns can call 1-800-275-8777.