by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
A year from concept to execution, The UPS Store on Hogan Street opened for business Monday morning just a few weeks after the postal contract at Ziba’s hair salon was terminated.
“It’s been a long road, but we actually wanted to be ready when the [old federal courthouse] closed so there would be something downtown,” said owner Terry Wilkins, who briefly entertained moving the post office boxes into his store, but ultimately passed after he learned it would prevent him from offering other parcel services, including Federal Express.
“It makes a lot more sense to do it like this,” said Wilkins of the “one stop” store, “now we are able to have a little bit of everything.”
Wilkins, a former employee with Federal Express, said he got into the UPS business almost by accident.
“I used to deliver to a UPS store on one of my routes,” he said. “I became friends with the manager and, after talking to him for a while, decided it was something I would like to do.”
In addition to housing postal boxes — they each have their own address, not box numbers — the store features FBI fingerprinting, passport photos and a computer work station with a DSL connection.
“I’m sure there are a lot of attorneys and businessmen who may not have offices downtown. This will be a way for them to get a little work done,” said Vikki Wilkins, who will work part-time at the UPS store.
The UPS Store will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Although closed on the weekend, box renters will be able to enter the store via a key pad so they can check their mail.
“We’ve already had a lot of people call to request a box,” said Wilkins. “I’m really excited to be back at work.”