Post office abruptly closes doors

Yantic, Conn. (WTNH) - A local post office has abruptly closed it's doors, forcing more than 200 people to go some place else to handle their mail.

Some customers didn't even realize the Yantic Post Office closed indefinitely Monday night, and many are demanding answers.

"It is disappointing," said Jean Odgers. "I always come here for stamps and the people are so nice."

The US Postal Service says a safety concern raised last week lead to the emergency suspension.

The building's owner says the safety reasons are unrelated to the building structure or grounds, but the Postal Service isn't saying why it suddenly closed sending the 230 Yantic residents with post office boxes to Bozrah.

"They said that things will get better when I asked today, but I don't know what that means," Douglas Wray said laughing.

Wray has been using the post office for 39 years.

"You meet friends and neighbors here and you stand around chatting and it's kind of sad to see that," said Wray. "It's very sad actually. It feels like I lost friend."

"Honestly we solid," said Bassam Salahi. "I get people from West Virginia, West Hartford."

Salahi owns the Lazizah Bakery & Market next door. He would like to see the post office reopen, but more for the residents than his business.

"We here for five years," Salahi said. "Doesn't worry me, but any business close in Norwich actually hurt the city and post office very essential."

Even though folks will now have to drive a couple of miles away to pick up their mail in Bozrah they won't have to change their mailing address just yet.