For two years, a burned-out post office stood next to 35-W covered in graffiti. One tag was especially visible from the street. “We ❤️ our postal patrons! We will be back to serve you!” was sprayed painted in white along a brick wall.

The former Lake Street Post Office, fenced off in June 2021. The white graffiti reads, “We ❤️ our postal patrons! We will be back to serve you!”

On October 11, the USPS reopened its Lake Street location. A new message appeared on the fresh brick wall in baby blue chalk: “We are back to serve you!” An envelope and heart follows the referential message.

"We are back to serve you!" is written in chalk along the new Lake Street Post Office.

“I personally didn't put that on there,” USPS worker Fred Brombach said after the grand opening of the Lake Street Post Office on October 20 (The Postmaster confirmed that a mail carrier was the artist).

Brombach has worked for USPS for 41 years, over 30 of them at the Lake Street location.

“It’s heartwarming to be back,” Brombach said. “After 30 years in one spot, you make it your home…your home away from home.”

The USPS and Brombach worked out of the former Kmart building on Lake Street after the building was irreparably damaged during the 2020 unrest following the killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin.

Fred Brombach, second from the left, poses for a picture with his USPS colleagues at the Lake Street Post Office grand opening.

“You know, it's just like we were kind of disjointed for a while due to the circumstances,” Brombach said. “It's like coming home after being gone for over two years at this location.”  

The rebuilt Minneapolis Lake Street Post Office is located at its original location--110 E. 31st  St. This Post Office location is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.