POST-OFFICE POSSIBILITIES
According to at least one city official, these spots are being considered to house a new Methuen Post Office:
By Steve Whipple
MethuenLife Writer
According to Methuen’s former community development director Karen Sawyer, at least four possible sites have been brought to the attention of Joe Mulvey, who is in charge of scouting new locations for Methuen’s main post office.
The city has satellite offices in the East End at the Howe Street Superette and in the West End at Galloway’s convenience store on Pelham Street.
For years residents have complained that parking and access to the post office at 272 Broadway is difficult.
“There are a couple of sites in play for the post office: Movie Gallery, Benny Espaillat's mill at 225 Broadway; Joe Fisichelli is trying to sell the P.O. on the concept of a modular building on the site next to his mom's mall....Village Mall has shown the P.O. space,” said Sawyer who has since taken a job with Peabody’s department of community development.”
The Movie Gallery, about a half mile down Broadway from the current post office, was a video store that has since closed. That business sub-leased from Walgreen’s which was in that site first. The building is owned by Joseph Nasser of Windham.
“If the right deal comes along, we can work something out,” said Nasser. I submitted a bid like everyone else, but I haven’t heard anything.”
Nasser said there are over 40 parking spaces for the 10,000 square foot building, which can be subdivided at the post office’s request.
Real estate agents Joe and Steve Fisichelli operate Preferred Construction and have offered to build on the 248 Broadway lot between David Spada’s future retail plaza and the small plaza the Fisichellis’ mom owns. That plaza houses Family Dollar, Methuen Family Restaurant, a sub shop and cleaners.
Joe Fisichelli said that lot has already received approval for a Dairy Queen and an office.
“Karen Sawyer had talked to me, so I made some site revisions and sent them to Joseph Mulvey. Our lot would be 9,000 square feet with 13 spaces. It would be a whole new building and it wouldn’t take long to build,” he said.
He said the Fisichellis are currently in litigation with Family Dollar, which doesn’t want to share its parking lot with a future business such as Dairy Queen.
Benny Espaillat owns the Espaillat Mills at 225 Broadway and also would welcome the post office. The former Leone’s Furniture building was erected in 1919 and currently is home to about 28 businesses including a large clothing and shoe store, lawyers, architects and Espaillat’s online shoe business.
“We have 2,800 square feet available. What we call the first floor has a front and rear entrance,” said Espaillat. “This is prime space: it’s handicapped accessible, has a lot of windows and a lobby.”
He added that he would be able to provide at least 14 parking spaces required by the post office and would require six to eight weeks to prepare the space.
“My understanding is that (Mulvey) has been to the parking lot but has not been inside yet. We’re waiting to sit down and discuss,” said Espaillat.
According to Sawyer, Mulvey has also scouted space in the Village Mall, between Dollar Tree and China Buffet. A sign on the property says that 10,000 square feet is currently available for lease.
As of MethuenLife press time, Joe Mulvey had not yet returned calls.
Said Mayor William Manzi, “From my perspective each site brings something unique to the table. I honestly would not rank the sites, but I am willing to say that the issues that are critically important are ease of access, sufficient parking, and placement within the greater downtown. As far as these site...I would not be opposed to any of them for a post office.”
