John George, who owns Maryport News and Ellenborough Post Office and mini market, said he’d had no intention of taking on another business “until staff convinced me that I should buy Netherton Post Office, which has been closed for about three weeks”.
He said he and staff at the mini mart had noticed they were getting customers from Netherton.
He added: “It is a steep hill for some of the older people to climb. Netherton is its own little community so I agreed to take it on.”
He said the previous owner had left for family commitments.
The post office opened on Wednesday, offering a range of postal services, grocery and food items and Lotto.
“We are going to move some walls around and I am in discussion with a couple of franchises,” he said.
Mr George has kept the one staff member employed at Netherton and experienced staff from Ellenborough will also work in the shop.
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