A change of location and ownership at the Postal Business Center

When Robert Bachelor decided to get out of his shipping business established in November 1997 and put the Postal Business Center (PBC) building adjacent to his Melting Pot Pizza restaurant on 14th Street on Front Royal’s northside to other uses, a move and change of ownership was set in motion.

The move was made Saturday, January 19, to 524 North Royal Avenue, between The Subway Restaurant at the intersection of North Royal Avenue and Sixth Street and the Shenks building; and the new owner is Diana Settle.

Settle explains the transfer as stemming from her long-time business and personal relationship to Bachelor: “I started working at Melting Pot in 2002, so I go back 17 years with Robert and Westy. He even allowed Boogie and I to get married and have the reception in the restaurant in 2004 on New Year’s Eve. I started working at PBC in 2010.

We’ve moved – the old location adjacent to The Melting Pot on 14th Street on Front Royal’s northside.

“Last September, Robert called me in his office and told me that they were ready to get out of the shipping business and asked if I would like to purchase it. But they wanted the building to do other things with, so I would have to relocate the business. I said ‘heck yea’ and purchased the business in November. The transition went very smoothly thanks to all the great people that I had backing me and who helped with the move! I have owned my own business before, one where I worked out of my house, so having things like rent, inventory, etc. are fairly new and a little scary, but I’m getting the hang of it.”

The move went smoothly, with only a four-hour, half-day Saturday shift being missed the day of the move, January 19. The PBC reopened for regular hours at the new location Monday, January 21, with Settle and her mom, Ollie Sessions, another PBC veteran holding down the fort.
“There were a few changes in staff before I started, but me, mom and Susan Rabold were all there long term. Mom is working with me now, but Susan has taken a new position at the Melting Pot.

The intersection of N. Royal Ave. and Sixth St. near the physical center of the Town of Front Royal from the new PBC parking lot

“I think one of the more positive aspects of the move is being more centrally located in town, also there’s more parking and it’s easier to get in and out of the parking lot. The majority of our ‘regulars’ were forewarned, as were the mailbox renters. There is a sign on the door of the old building letting everyone know we moved and the new location. So I think yes, the customer base has adjusted well; there have been nothing but positive comments so far.”

Settle notes that in addition to the parking lot access off North Royal Avenue, there is parking behind the building off the alley running the length of the block – “The back door is okay to use,” she added.

When Royal Examiner first visited Settle at the new dead-center of town location business was booming. The parking lot was about half full, a Fed Ex truck was making pick ups and deliveries, and we were sandwiched in our entry by a lady carrying in a parcel for shipment and a man checking for an incoming shipment.

Two perspectives of the new location – above from the Shenk’s side of the PBC parking lot; below from its boundary with The Subway sandwich shop.

“Our services include mailbox rental, faxing, notary, copies, packing and shipping, some office supplies. We ship for FedEx, UPS, and USPS, and we also accept drop offs for all three. Also, we offer color copies and hopefully within a week, we will be offering scanning,” Settle said.

The Postal Business Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at its new location in the heart of mid-town Front Royal.

While still tidying up, it has been business as usual with customers and carriers FedEx, UPS and the US Postal Service at the new PBC location – and there is rear access and parking off the alley.