The Gearhart Post Office on Pacific Way will close at the end of the month unless a new contractor is found.

GEARHART — The U.S. Postal Service has announced that the post office on Pacific Way will close at the end of the month, shifting P.O. boxes and other mail services for hundreds of residents to Seaside.

The Postal Service said in a memo to P.O. Box holders on Friday that they are actively looking for a new supplier for the contract postal unit, which has over 700 P.O. boxes. Customers were informed the P.O. boxes were being moved to the Seaside Post Office a few miles away on Avenue A.

“The Postal Service is searching for a new supplier and while there is no current timeline available, it’s anticipated one will be found in the near future,” Kim Frum, a spokesperson for the Postal Service, said in an email to The Astorian.

Frum stressed that the move was triggered by the contractor, who “decided to not renew their commitment effective April 30.”

Patricia Christian, the postmaster in Seaside, declined to comment when asked for more details about the shift.

City leaders and some residents were alarmed by the sudden announcement and the potential for disruption to mail services.

“They have begun to formulate a contingency plan to look into this situation,” City Administrator Chad Sweet said of the Seaside Post Office.

City Councilor Dana Gould said many people in the community rely heavily on the post office on Pacific Way, including those who telecommute and operate home businesses. She described the post office as a community space accessible to elderly residents and people without cars. She also wondered about the fate of two local post office employees.

“That’s a community center for us, we all meet down there,” Gould said.

Gearhart shares a ZIP code with Seaside, and many residents who live on the east side depend on the Seaside Post Office for delivery rather than the P.O. boxes downtown. The split has prompted some to campaign for a Gearhart ZIP code to avoid confusion.

Over the past few days, residents have discussed the upcoming closure of the post office on social media and have reached out to state Rep. Cyrus Javadi and others for help.

Javadi, a Tillamook Republican who represents the North Coast, contacted U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici — Oregon Democrats — seeking “urgent intervention.”

“Our office believes that federal oversight and advocacy are crucial in addressing and resolving the postal service issues faced by Gearhart residents,” Javadi wrote.

Javadi told The Astorian he hopes for a quick resolution. “I’ll be working with those elected officials, as well as local leaders, to identify potential solutions,” he said. “And we’ll keep everybody in the community updated as soon as we have any.”