Ceiling collapse closes Wilmette Post Office; reopening timetable unclear

(Editor’s note: This story was updated on Thursday, Nov. 13, to include a response from the U.S. Postal Service.)

A collapsed ceiling has forced the temporary shutdown of the Wilmette Post Office.

U.S. Post Service spokesperson Tim Norman said in an email that as of Nov. 13 a reopening date had not been determined. Operations from the Wilmette branch have moved to the Winnetka location at 512, Chestnut St., Norman wrote.

“No substantial service impacts are anticipated,” he said. “… We appreciate the cooperation and patience of our customers and our employees.”

Residents visiting the Wilmette branch on Wednesday were met at the entryway with yellow caution tape and signs reading “Do Not Enter.”

Wilmette Fire Chief Brian Lambel said the fire department responded to the post office on Monday evening, Nov. 10, when the ceiling in the mail-sorting room fell. Lambel said one employee was in the facility at the time, but no one was injured.

Lambel said it is unclear how the incident occurred, and first-responders shut off electrical to the approximately 150-square-foot impacted area. Norman said the post office believes the collapse was weather related. Wilmette and the Chicago area received its first snowfall of the year on Monday, Nov. 10.

The building was closed regardless for Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11, but it remained closed the following day, Wednesday, Nov. 12, and continues to be closed.

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