Three U.S. Postal Service locations in Erie County have been notified to terminate their services ― but no further closures are planned, a USPS spokesman said.
The affected locations — Kraus Department Store, Delta Sonic and Pony Express — are all privately operated retail businesses that contract with USPS to provide limited services. These are the only CPUs or contract postal units operating in Erie County.
USPS spokesman Mark Wahl clarified that CPUs are not official post offices and are not operated by the Postal Service itself. He also emphasized that the closures are not related to any directives from the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE.
“The Postal Service determined that nearby postal facilities are able to serve the community,” he said.
Nearby alternatives for affected customers
For customers near the Kraus Department Store at 810 Parade St., the nearest USPS-operated facility is the Downtown Erie Post Office, located 1 mile away at 1401 State St., Suite 100.
Those who frequent the Delta Sonic CPU at 6900 Peach St. can instead visit the South Erie Post Office, 3 miles away at 3607 Poplar St.
Three U.S. Postal Service locations in Erie County have been notified to terminate their services ― but no further closures are planned.
Customers near the Pony Express at 1903 W. Eighth St. will find the Presque Isle Post Office just 2½ miles away at 2711 Legion Road.
When asked whether these nearby facilities can handle the increased demand, Wahl responded: “We have internal measurement systems that provide staffing and workloads to assist with scheduling for increased activities.”
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Pony Express fears for its future
The terminations have not been welcomed by some.
David Grab, who along with his wife Terry, has managed Pony Express since 2002, expressed deep concern over the decision, saying the loss of USPS services could significantly impact their business.
“It’s what drives traffic through my doors,” Grab said in a June interview with the Erie Times-News.
Pony Express, located at 1903 W. Eighth St., is shown on June 11, 2025.
Without that draw, the couple fears a sharp decline in revenue that could jeopardize the store’s long-term viability. They also worry about the impact on customers — many of whom are elderly — who have come to rely on the Pony Express as a convenient neighborhood hub.
“They come here by walking. They come here on their bikes. They come here on wheelchairs. If they are forced to go to Legion Road or to the nearest downtown post offices, then they’re not going to have that convenience,” he said.
Wahl noted that USPS has terminated other CPUs in Pennsylvania, including one each in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and York.
A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow him on X @ETNRao.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: USPS says no more postal closures coming to Erie County