Washington Street post office to close in Iowa City

The United States Postal Service has announced that the Washington Street post office substation in Iowa City will be closing its doors in mid-to-late August as a cost-saving measure.

USPS spokesman Rich Watkins said keeping the Washington Street branch open does not make sense in terms of finances, especially when considering that the Iowa City Main Post Office is located approximately three-tenths of a mile away.

"The United States Postal Service is losing approximately $23 million a day," Watkins said. "It does not make good business sense to keep them both open."

No jobs will be lost when the substation closes. The office's two full-time employees will be moved to the Main Post Office, where they already spent part of their time, Watkins said.

Watkins said while the USPS understands that although some businesses downtown may be inconvenienced by the closure, the Postal Service simply cannot afford to keep both locations.

"The businesses and their owners certainly understand the financial situation," Watkins said.

Over the past few years, the Washington Street post office has recorded a decrease in business, Watkins said. In 2008, the office recorded $741,686 in receipts, while in 2010 the amount fell to $637,974.