Elected officials fight Pine Point post office closure

State Rep. Bud Williams speaks about the potential end of the post office contract at Gateway Hardware. He is surrounded by Mayor Domenic Sarno, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey’s District Aide Jesse Lederman, School Committee member Barbara Gresham, Pine Point Jeanette Wilhite, Williams’s Legislative Aide and City Councilor Malo Brown, Gateway owner Thomas McCarthy, state Rep. Orlando Ramo’s Chief of Staff and School Committee member Ayanna Crawford.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — For residents of the Pine Point neighborhood, particularly those who do not drive, being able to walk to Gateway Hardware to mail packages, buy stamps and send priority mail is “critical,” said state Rep. Bud Williams, whose legislative district includes the business.

But if the United States Postal Service has its way, postal services at the business will end on June 25.

USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Judy K. Ferriera explained that USPS contracts with independent retailers to operate “contract postal units” to offer supplementary access to postal services.

“Under CPU contract terms, the Postal Service and CPU operators agree that either party can terminate a contract upon giving 120 days’ notice. We have exercised our right to do so in some cases where nearby post offices, which are operated by the Postal Service, are available to serve the community directly,” Ferriera said.

But an April 2026 article by Debby Szeredy in American Postal Worker Magazine said USPS is violating federal law because it is shuttering post offices “without providing affected communities with their right to a public review period to review documents, attend hearings and record comments, as well as their right to appeal.”

Ferriera said, “In the case of Gateway Hardware at 150 Boston Rd., Springfield, MA 01109, USPS determined that nearby Post Offices are available to serve the community. The closest USPS-operated retail facility to Gateway Hardware is the Mason Square Post Office, which is 1.7 miles away at 914 State St. Other options may be found by visiting USPS Postal Locator.”

However, Williams and community residents said it is not that simple to go to another branch. “The average, everyday person, they need this. Places they can walk to without getting on the bus,” Williams said.

“This is not just a post office. It’s part of the neighborhood. A lot of people don’t understand how the neighborhood is impacted. We’re going to fight,” said Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown, who is also Williams’s legislative aide.

“Gateway’s been like an institution,” said Mayor Domenic Sarno. “This is a hardworking, blue-collar area.” He added that Gateway is a “well-respected” business that is “woven into the fabric of Pine Point.”

Williams said U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey are advocating for the continuation of the Gateway’s partnership with USPS. Markey’s district aide, Jesse Lederman, delivered remarks on the senator’s behalf, saying, “Efforts to close the Pine Point contract postal unit is a part of a broader and alarming trend by USPS leadership that degrades and threatens services throughout the commonwealth and the nation.”

Since Jan. 21, 2025, more than 35 post offices have been closed, including some that have been operating since the 1800s. However, post office closures are not unique to this presidential administration. Closures over the previous four years averaged more than 43 per year. In fact, post offices have been closing in large numbers since the 1960s.

Lederman continued Markey’s comments, saying, “Access to postal services is essential, including those that rely upon USPS to receive life-saving prescription medication, conduct business and carry out important correspondence.” Lederman also quoted Markey as saying the Massachusetts delegation is investigating other incidents of USPS closing post offices “in the communities that need access the most.”

Pine Point resident Jeanette Wilhite said she relies on the post office at Gateway Hardware because she trusts that no one will tamper with it. “You can’t put it in the little blue box because people will rob it,” Wilhite said about the USPS mailboxes commonly found on sidewalks.
Gateway owner Thomas McCarthy said Wilhite is not alone in trusting Gateway Hardware because it is officially connected to USPS. “It’s so important to individuals that come in here that they left [their mail] with a post office partner,” he said.

When asked how much income Gateway Hardware would lose if it were no longer able to offer postal services, McCarthy could not give an exact figure but said he added postal services to the business to drive traffic. McCarthy said that having the post office draws people from the surrounding neighborhoods, who then buy hockey gear and sporting supplies, or have keys made.

Referring to the hardware store, Wilhite said, “I come up here and get my blades sharpened for my lawnmower, and I bring my mail here. Please keep it open, whatever it takes.”