Only months after being displaced from University Square, the U.S. Postal Service is focusing on two possible downtown locations for a new office.
The McDonald's building, 441 N. Lake St., and the old Blockbuster video store, 515 State St., have arisen as two likely locations for the post office relocation.
In May, the post office, which was located at 22 University Square on University Mall, moved to the University Bookstore. Since that time, the bookstore has served as a ""wonderful temporary solution,"" according to Terri Bouffiou, spokesperson for Madison's post offices. Still, she added, ""It is definitely not long term.""
Bouffiou said McDonald's, which recently announced its going out of business, would be an ideal spot due to its convenient location for students, Madison residents and the post office.
""[The McDonald's location] meets our needs. It would be wonderful for us,"" Bouffiou said.
Ald. Austin King, District 8, agrees that the vacancy left by McDonald's would be a good spot for a post office because it's less than a block away from its old location on University Mall.
Still, speculation remains as to who or what will buy the McDonald's building. King said if the post office fails to move into the 441 N. Lake St. locale, he wants to see a Madison based business take over the spot. UW-Madison sophomore Kayla Spensley said she wants to see a grocery store near State Street, but shuddered at the idea of another chain restaurant in the area.
""We don't need any more places to eat on or near State Street,"" Spensley said.
Blockbuster went out of business this year, and the spot, which is centrally located, remains desolate. However, King said he hopes the post office does not move onto State Street because he wants the street to stay a place for shopping.
""Hopefully the old Blockbuster site will stay in the retail arena,"" he said.
Bouffiou would not comment on who the front-runner was in the eyes of the post office but she said, ""We are looking at several locations, and we haven't been able to come to agreements with anybody.""
