The U.S. Postal Service launches the first of its money-saving village post offices in a tiny town in Washington State.

Red’s Hop N’ Market is Malone’s one-stop shop for coffee, cigarettes, beer, socks and pickled sausages.  People really like them.  There’s a Hot Mama, which is the spicier version.  And a Big Daddy is the less spicy version.  Beginning today, Red’s will also be the Village Post Office.  Red’s will sell stamps and flat-rate packages and rent mailboxes.

Dean Granholm, Vice President, Delivery and Post Office Operations says Malone was costing USPS about $85,000 to $90,000 a year and was bringing in less than $20,000 a year.

The Postal Service will pay Red’s Hop N’ Market about $2,000 dollars a year to become the new Village Post Office.

Malone’s old post office closed yesterday. Today operations move across the street to Red’s Hop In Market.

source: Marketplace – American Public Media Program