MINI U.S. POST OFFICE OPEN AT NEWS EXPRESS IN BETHESDA

Tired of the long walks and lack of parking at the new Bethesda post office at 6900 Wisconsin Avenue?

If you live in the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda, there may be a better solution for you.

News Express, a convenience store that also doubles as a domestic and international newsstand, has opened a miniature U.S. Post Office inside the store.

Located in the ground floor of Triangle Towers apartments on Cordell Avenue, the postal section can meet most of your basic mailing needs, as well as stamp purchases.  You can also grab a beverage and foreign newspaper while there.

Of course, if you live in Triangle Towers, this is a great amenity. Residents of The Palisades, Fairmont Plaza, and - this winter - That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) will also find this handy.

NEWS EXPRESS OPENS IN BETHESDA; CONVENIENCE STORE TO ADD POST OFFICE, WESTERN UNION SERVICES NEXT WEEK

Bethesda's newest convenience store, News Express - in the ground floor of Triangle Towers - opened yesterday.

The Cordell Avenue shop and newsstand will put its U.S. Mail and Western Union services into operation next week, the owner said last evening.

Those services, as well as the newsstand aspect of News Express, set it apart from what would otherwise be a standard convenience store.  Since Sheetz and Wawa are apparently barred from opening in Montgomery County, independent stores like News Express are the only competition 7-Eleven has to contend with in Bethesda.

Among lottery offerings, News Express has TV screens dedicated to Keno and simulated horse racing, as well as a table where players can sit.

The opening is a boon for Triangle Towers residents in particular, as well as for those in other nearby apartments and condos.

NEWS EXPRESS INSTALLS STOREFRONT SIGN, MAILBOXES (PHOTOS)

News Express, downtown Bethesda's newest convenience store and newsstand, has installed a permanent sign over its future Cordell Avenue storefront.

Another intriguing addition is the bank of post office boxes, which strongly hints that the functioning U.S. Post Office in the old News Express could be returning at the new location.

That would be good news for residents and businesses in the northern part of downtown Bethesda, who are not within easy walking distance of the nutty new post office location at 6900 Wisconsin Avenue.  Contrary to political and media assertions, the failings of 6900 and its lack of parking persist, and have absolutely not been resolved to the satisfaction of residents.

NEWS EXPRESS, FUTURE BETHESDA CONVENIENCE STORE, MAKING STEADY PROGRESS (PHOTOS)

Bethesda's newest convenience store, News Express, is moving closer to opening in the ground floor of Triangle Towers, on Cordell Avenue.

Where rubble was strewn a few months ago, the typical appointments of a convenience store are now popping up:  Moneygrams, phone cards, energy drink refrigerators, copying machine, and newspaper/magazine racks.

News Express will be a newsstand, as well as a convenience store.

NEWS EXPRESS POSTS SIGN IN WINDOW (PHOTO)

CONVENIENCE STORE

AND NEWSSTAND

COMING SOON

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive

As I reported a few months ago, News Express is returning to downtown Bethesda.  The convenience store and newsstand will be in the ground floor of the Triangle Towers apartment building on Cordell Avenue.

Yesterday, a sign was placed into the window.  Which just says what regular readers here already knew.  Duh.

Great news (pun intended) for Triangle Towers residents, who can find coffee, ice cream, newspapers, potentially postal services, and maybe just a respite from all the construction noise behind their building, where That 70s Building (a.k.a. The Gallery at Bethesda) is currently being erected.

NEWS EXPRESS TO REOPEN IN BETHESDA - WITH A POST OFFICE?

A favorite Bethesda convenience store will soon be back in business.

News Express, formerly at 7700 Old Georgetown Road, is reopening in the Triangle Towers building on Cordell Avenue.

The new store will offer a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, convenience store food and beverages, and - if it successfully obtains a liquor license - beer and wine.

The $64000 question about News Express is, will it retain the official USPS Post Office the old location had?

That post office didn't attract so much attention when Bethesda had two convenient, downtown postal facilities.  But now that authorities foolishly allowed a rush closure of both, a new post office on Cordell Avenue could be a highly-lucrative prospect for the store's owner.  While this location would not fill the vacuum for automobile-dependent customers, nor for those relying upon drive-up mail drops, it would provide a walking-distance post office for downtown residents.

Let's hope there's a post office in there.  You'd think the USPS would be pretty keen on helping to make it happen, as it would get them off the hook for a "walkable" downtown location.   (It would also be accessible via the Bethesda Circulator).  So - hint, hint USPS and Chris Van Hollen - make it happen.

At the least, even if there isn't a post office inside, Triangle Towers residents will still be thrilled to have this convenient convenience store, beer and wine outlet, and newsstand all in one.  And only an elevator ride away!