Nov. 5, 2026, 12:31 p.m. ET
Doubts that the South Erie Post Office will reopen soon are fading.
A contractor is at work repairing water damage and other issues at the 3607 Poplar St. facility.
The post office has been closed for repairs since Oct. 31, 2025. Little evidence of construction at the site raised questions about whether the facility would reopen this month, as U.S. Postal Service officials said in September, or even in mid-December, the latest target date provided by USPS.
Then neighbors spotted activity at the facility on Nov. 2 as the contractor took measurements and assessed materials needed for repairs.
“It’s the first activity I’ve seen since June when the glass was removed and windows were boarded,” said Nick Pallotto, a nearby resident who’s led a push for the post office to be reopened.
Work in progress
Perry Construction Group now is replacing window framing at the post office so that new glass can be installed. Replacing drywall and ceiling tiles are also on contractor’s to-do list, a Perry employee said.
The building’s roof had previously been repaired but interior damage caused by water leaks was yet to be addressed, a USPS spokesman said in spring.
Pallotto, 82, pressed postal officials for information on work needed at the post office and when the office might reopen. He got no answers.
Since June he has been circulating petitions urging the reopening of the post office. The petition — signed by 3,061 people as of late October — additionally urges residents to contact their federal legislators for help.
From October: USPS gives new target date for reopening South Erie Post Office
In August, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly sent a joint letter urging Postmaster General David Steiner to reopen the South Erie Post Office. They got no solid response, Kelly said.
This fall, USPS indicated that the branch office would reopen in November, then extended that projection to mid-December.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@usatodayco.com.