Seasoned postal customers seem to approve of the downtown post office’s new location.

The new facility, at 628 State St. across from Circus Square Park, has been in operation since May 13.

Sidney Sidebottom, who comes to the downtown post office every weekday to check a P.O. box, said he likes the new location.

“It’s good. It seems like a nice new facility,” he said. “Hours are the same. It’s not too far from the old one.”

While the new location takes him a little longer to get to, Sidebottom said he doesn’t have a problem with it because coming downtown to send packages and check P.O. boxes is still an option.

“I’m certainly glad they didn’t shut down the downtown location, because getting out to the one on Scottsville Road is really inconvenient for a lot of people,” he said.

Sidebottom also noted that the new location is smaller but uses its space more efficiently.

“I’m happy with it,” he said. It seems like it’s got enough space for everything.”

The post office moved from its former location at 311 E. 11th Ave. because of a desire for a smaller space.

The former building was sold to developer Tim Poston in 2016. A public forum held by U.S. Postal Service officials at that time determined that the building on State Street had more support than two other potential relocation sites: one in the Fairview Plaza shopping center on U.S. 31-W By-Pass and one in a portion of a building at Circus Square Park owned by the Downtown Redevelopment Authority.

Jeff Spader, whose job as a runner for a local law firm takes him to the post office every day, also spoke positively about the new location.

Spader said the old location had far too much space and he welcomed the smaller location.

“There’s less wasted space so it’s more streamlined,” he said.

Spader also said he thought the new location was more scenic.

“I think it looks better, downtown around the square. It’s got more of a small-town vibe,” he said.

Because the new building is on a street Spader considered more of a “main thoroughfare,” it is easier to find.

“It’s easier to get to, rather than winding your way through downtown to get to the other one,” he said.

Postmaster Andrea Forsythe could not be reached for comment. Mark Broady, who is acting postmaster, did not return a message seeking comment.

Greg Ware, a customer who stops by to check his P.O. box roughly once a week, said he also appreciated the new location, though he acknowledged it took some getting used to.

“It’s not too far out of the way,” he said. “You’ve just got to get used to all the one-way streets.”