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By Marty Finley– Reporter, Louisville Business First
Sep 16, 2016, 3:18pm EDT Updated Sep 16, 2016, 3:43pm EDT
Louisville-based Hagan Properties Inc. has signed a long-term lease with the U.S. Postal Service after word came in May that the USPS planned to vacate Shelbyville Road Plaza by the end of the year.
Tommy Edwards, a retail leasing representative with Hagan Properties, declined to disclose the lease terms when reached by phone Friday, but he said the new deal will keep USPS at the center for several more years. The post office has had a presence at Shelbyville Road Plaza since the early 1970s. It operates a retail outlet and distribution services there.
Edwards said in a news release that the deal came together because the city of St. Matthews and local residents “voiced their desire that the USPS remain at Shelbyville Road Plaza.”
Edwards said the post office occupies more than 22,000 square feet of space at the nearly 400,000-square-foot shopping center, which is almost fully leased.
Negotiations appeared to break down between the two sides earlier this year, creating concern about USPS’ future commitment to the center. Talk had recently turned to USPS looking for alternate locations.
Edwards told us in May that he received a call from USPS representatives that the Postal Service would vacate its longtime home by Dec. 31. Edwards said the call came as the two sides were negotiating details of a long-term lease extension that just needed a signature.
And Susan Wright, a representative with the USPS corporate communications office, said at the time that USPS had not made a final decision to leave the center and was still interested in negotiating the lease.
USPS confirmed the lease agreement when reached Friday.
“We look forward to serving our many loyal customers at the St. Matthews Station on Shelbyville Road,” said Louisville Postmaster Joe Meimann in a statement.
Edwards said Hagan held out hope that USPS would stay in the space, but the company moved ahead in contacting potential retailers, restaurants and furniture stores that have expressed interest in the location in the past.
In other recent activity at the shopping center. Quest Outdoors recently opened an expanded store in the shopping center, taking the former Borders space.
Also, Carter’s Inc., the parent company of Carter’s, Osh Kosh B’Gosh and other baby and children’s apparel brands, opened a store at the shopping center this summer.
Edwards said Cyclebar, a premium indoor cycling franchise, is the latest tenant planned for the shopping center, taking about 3,000 square feet. He said it should be open by the end of the year.