‘Potential mold' forces North DeKalb Mall post office to close temporarily

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Water damage and the threat of mold has forced the post office at North DeKalb Mall to temporarily close, officials said.

There was "visual evidence of water damage to the ceiling and walls" at the post office, which is located on the southern side of the mammoth retail center, U.S. Postal Service spokesman Rick Badie told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday.

Crews are testing for "potential mold," he said.

Customers continued to attempt to enter the post office Thursday.

"I'm really upset and disappointed," said customer Manan Sisodiya.

Those who live close by are forced to use another branch about 2 miles away while anyone with a post office box now has to pick up their mail in downtown Decatur. However, they can't go after hours, and many business owners and customers said they got no notice or warning.

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The outside blue mailboxes are still in use.

"I don't understand why they haven't cleaned it up," Sisodiya said.

Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach spoke to an employee of the mall who said they've never seen problems of mold at North DeKalb but there are a number of storefronts like this one that are empty and stores moving out."

A spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service says water damage and possible mold caused the closure last week.

It is working to fix the problems with cooperation from the mall's management but says it will likely be a couple weeks before the post office reopens.

One young man came by to try to ship important medicine to his grandfather in another state.

"I just came and it's closed … Some trouble to go to some different location. I don't know what to do," he told us.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group