The Five Points post office at 510 Columbia Pike in downtown Franklin has served as a United States Postal Service (USPS) location since the building was built in 1924. USPS’s decision to cease services in the building in 1991 led to its designation by the National Trust for Historical Preservation as an endangered site. The postal operations at the time were saved in part by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. When USPS pulled out, Five Points became a contract operation, privately owned, but conducting business to government standards.
The City of Franklin has owned the building from 2007, and renovations have since been made. Per the leasing agreement, FirstBank
is the primary lessee of the building, but must sublease to a postal operator.
Without Five Points, Franklin would only have one USPS office on South Royal Oaks. This was the fear earlier in the year, when the previous operator wanted to let his lease expire.
Enter Texan Jeff Nicholls, a rep for a Napa winery, who moved to Franklin 10 years ago to expand his wine business. Nicholls became interested and involved with Franklin’s business community and local concerns, like the Rotary Club. He loved the history of the post office and the part it plays in downtown life with merchants and residents able to walk there. As an entrepreneur, when the post office’s contract was last up for bid a few years ago, Nicholls said he considered it, but was too late to make an offer. He was attracted to its position as the only standalone business in a historic building.
When the lease came up for the second time, he jumped at the chance to bid. After a temporary closure, the post office re-opened on May 4th,
2020 under Nicholls' management. He hired back former employees because they know the customers and their needs. PO boxes have had multi-generational use, with some families using the same box for the past 60 years. Nicholls' vision is to keep same the great service, and look for new ways to expand, like grow relationships with home businesses and help with their shipping needs. Later, he would like to expand tourist services, such as selling local postcards and items.