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Last month, the San Francisco Small Business Commission added Castro Mailbox and Shipping Store PO Plus (584 Castro St.) to the city’s legacy business registry, which recognizes “long-standing, community-serving businesses” that have established themselves at least in local neighborhoods. Three decades.
There are currently 320 small businesses across the city on the registry. PO Plus is the first postal and shipping business to be respected.
In the Castro, PO Plus joins Encore Oyster Bar, Beck’s Motor Lodge, Castro Country Club, Cliff’s Difference, Cove on Castro, Courtney’s Produce, Cruisin’ the Castro Walk, For Your Eyes Only, GLBT Historical Society, Marcello’s. Pizza, Moby Dick, Rollo San Francisco, Ruby Clay Studio & Gallery, San Francisco Bay Times and Yankee Clipper Voyage have all received heritage status since the registry began in 2016.
PO Plus at 584 Castro St. It opened in June 1982. | Photo: Steven Bracco / Hoodline
“I am truly proud and honored to be a part of this registry,” said Steve Mattel, owner of PO Plus. “Not just for me, but for the people who started PO Plus before me, especially Paul Moffett, who was the manager of this ship for 22 years.”
“I owe such a debt of gratitude to the people who came before me and built such an amazing business,” Martel added.
Affectionately called the “Gay Post Office”, PO Plus opened in June 1982. PO Plus is one of the few gay owned and operated businesses in the area.
Steve Martel, owner of PO Plus. | Photo: Steven Bracco / Hoodline
PO Plus was founded by JD Larson to provide Castro residents and visitors with a one-stop destination for their packaging, shipping, printing and business service needs. In the year In 1994, Paul Moffett took over the store and ran it until he sold the store to Martel in 2016.
In the early years, because of the stigma of maintaining a postal address on Castro St., PO Plus offered customers the option of sending their mail.
PO Box on Bryant Street. Larson makes his daily trip to retrieve the mail and bring it to PO Plus to have his customers pick it up in Castro.
During the height of the AIDS epidemic, PO Plus provided free notary services to Coming Home Hospice residents.
Photo: Steven Bracco / Hoodline
“When I think about San Francisco businesses, we are your critical business,” Martell said.
Being a part of the community since 1982, he says, being part of the community is critical to the mission of PO Plus. “I feel like this business has given back to the community and the community has given back to us,” he said. “That’s why we’ve been able to thrive for 40 years. The fact that it’s been gay-owned and operated continuously since day one is another important factor.”
“In addition to providing exceptional postal, shipping and business services, PO Plus makes an important cultural contribution to Castro by preserving its historic storefronts, where the first bisexual political organization, B.P.O.L., was founded in the 1980s,” the District 8 supervisor wrote. Raphael Mandelman in his letter of support to the Small Business Bureau.
“I strongly believe that PO Plus’ long-term presence in the Castro and their commitment to providing quality, community-oriented services will benefit them from being part of SAN.”
Francisco Legacy Business Archives,” added Mandelman.
Photo: Steven Bracco / Hoodline
Creating a friendly and welcoming environment has contributed to the success of the business, Martell added. “PO Plus is like a liquor store. Customers want to come in and talk to someone. I think that’s the biggest reason it’s been around for 40 years.”
Martel Since taking office in 2016, there have also been many staff members. “It’s with the work environment,” Martell said.
Now four decades later, Martell says PO Plus’ adaptability and staying on top of trends have made the business successful. Recent additions include virtual messaging and soon to be added wide format printing. Martel expects to have a wide format printer up and running that allows customers to print signs and banners.
Photo: Steven Bracco / Hoodline
However, four decades in business have not come without challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately, PO Plus was classified as an essential business early in the outbreak, Martel said.
While many businesses were forced to close, Martell told Hoodline PO Plus was open every day and never closed.
“We’ve had two great years,” Martel said. “It was a very strange situation we were growing up in.”
Martell explained that PO Plus fills the needs of people who work from home who print, fax and ship packages.
In addition, Martell PO Plus accepts Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Public records indicate PO Plus received $59,600 in April 2020.
Looking back on his six years of ownership of Poo Plus, Martell says, “My fear when I took over Civilization was that I was going to run it into the ground. Fortunately, this did not happen.
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