Tempe market becomes US Post Office

PHOENIX — A Tempe business owner relished the idea of partnering with the United States Postal Service and his dream has come true.

Gil Schmidt’s urban market, Thirsty Dog 2 Go, has become a designated Village Post Office, a place where customers can fill their basic postal service needs.

“They came to me and asked me if I wanted to be a village post office and I said yes,” he said. “We’re open earlier than they are, we’re open on the weekends and until two in the morning. If the post office is closed, [customers] can come here which will increase my foot traffic by at least 15 percent.”

USPS started opening village post offices in libraries, convenience stores and other local business around the country, typically in rural areas, in 2011. Because Tempe is becoming more of a 24-hour community, officials determined it would be a perfect fit in the growing college city.

There are 330 village post offices in the U.S. The one at Thirsty Dog 2 Go is Arizona’s first.

The USPS is interested in partnering with more local businesses. To learn more, click here.