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Laurel residents who need to send a package or buy stamps now have another alternative to waiting in line at the Main Street post office.

The United States Postal Service opened a contract postal unit off Cherry Lane, and some residents said the new location has already become the go-to place for their postal needs.

"Main Street's such a hectic place," said Tommy Folks, who lives off of Seventh Street in Laurel and stopped by the Cherry Street unit for its grand opening celebration on Monday.

A contract postal unit is a supplier-owned site that is operated under contract with the Postal Service. The agency also has offices in the Laurel Mall and at Muirkirk and Laurel Bowie roads.

Folks said he plans to buy stamps and ship packages at the new location even though the Main Street office is closer to his home. The up-to-30-minute lines that appear at the downtown office throughout the day are enough of a hassle for folks to travel a bit out of the way, he said.

Tiffany Dudley, a retail specialist for the Postal Service, said complaints about wait times at the Main Street post office prompted officials to open the new Laurel location.

Although the Postal Service has considered closing offices elsewhere in Prince George's County, Dudley said the area around the new Laurel unit is fast-growing and competitive for businesses.

"It's a great location," she said.

The contract unit, located at 14440 Cherry Lane Court, is owned by Tunde Oyemade, a Columbia resident who also owns his own insurance company. Oyemade said business has been good so far, and several customers have told him they are relieved to have discovered the new location.

"A lady came in here this morning, and she was so happy," Oyemade said Monday.

He and his wife are currently the only workers at the new unit, but Oyemade said he hopes to hire two more workers in early 2010. The unit offers the same services as a regular post office, except for money orders, P.O. boxes and c.o.d.'s.

Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.