INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The town of Spiceland in Henry County is unique in many ways not least of which it’s being the only Spiceland in the United States. Settled by the Quakers in the early 1800s, Spiceland was a station on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War, and gets its name from the numerous spice bushes growing in the area when it was established.

On Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, the 80th Village Post Office (VPO) in the Greater Indiana District will open in Spiceland at 9 a.m. (EST).

The new VPO is located at K & A Petroleum (Philip’s 66), 6409 S State Road 3, Spiceland, IN 47385. It replaces the VPO in Wilson's Market, 103 W Main St, which closed last year. 

Sheraz Rana, who manages the store, said it recently went through a complete renovation and reopened in April 2015. “It’s bigger and more modern. We make our own ice, and we now have hot food available as well as a greater range of groceries.”

During the renovation the store closed for three months and during that time, Rana said he was approached by Greater Indiana District VPO Coordinator Judy Bays who suggested relocating the VPO to the store. “I hadn’t really thought of it before, but it made great sense, especially with the expansion of the store and improved business.  I also knew that Wilson’s Store had closed,” Rana said.

The K & A Petroleum Store is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. Rana said many of his customers are excited since they saw the VPO sign in the window. “It’s going to be a great convenience being able to buy stamps and get Priority Mail packaging when they come into the store.”

The new postal center will be officially opened by Manager of Post Office Operations Todd Mansker and several USPS executives will be present at the event. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. and an open house will follow from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.

In 2011, the Postal Service introduced the VPO model as an alternate retail location for postal products and services, especially in rural communities.

VPOs are operated by local businesses contracting with the Postal Service, and offer a range of popular postal products and services including stamps and flat-rate packaging. 

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