SEAGROVE, N.C. — Residents in the town famous for handmade pottery are working to keep their post office open. The postal service lost $5 billion last year and many small town post offices across the country may have to pay the price.

“The post office is sort of like the heart and soul of the town,” said Seagrove resident Greg Black. “It’s real convenient and I would hate to see it shut down.”

Postal officials first contacted customers last month asking for opinions on the future of the Seagrove post office. The postal service is looking at several options including reducing retail hours or closing the office down.

If the post office closed, officials are looking at continuing retail services through mail carriers, a contractor or through neighboring post offices in Asheboro, Biscoe and Robbins.

Seagrove fights to keep post office