A Local Shipping and Receiving Hub Changes Location but Still Delivers the Goods

Since Southbay magazine launched in 2006, Manhattan Postal Center has been my go-to for issue mailings, supplies and even the occasional passport photo. I can leave a stack of magazines on the counter, and the staff will always give me a knowing thumbs up—no further instructions needed. In many ways, after so many years working together, this local family business feels like family. 

Zack Schwartz spent five years traveling the world as a cruise ship photographer before moving to the South Bay in 2013. “At the time, I was living on a sailboat in Marina del Rey, getting acclimated to life on land,” he shares. 

About a year later, his father suggested they look for a business to invest in, ideally somewhere in Southern California near the coast. Their search led to Manhattan Postal Center in Manhattan Beach. 

“When the former owners decided to retire after 14 years of running the business, it was a great opportunity to take over a thriving, successful operation that played an important role in the local community,” says Zack, who continued running the shop at the original location for about a decade. 

The Manhattan Postal Center team was considering a remodel when the landlord chose not to renew the lease. So they packed up and moved across the street to a brand-new building at 2006 North Sepulveda Boulevard. 

“The new location is a much better fit,” he says. “It offers solid foot traffic, which was something the old place really lacked. Plus, it has far better parking and easier access to Sepulveda Boulevard, which will make things much more convenient for my customers.” 

Zack says the timing of the move also felt right for longtime employee Amber, a crucial team member who manages the steady flow of daily operations. “Having her on board made the transition smoother and reassured me that we were ready for this next step.”

If you thought the days of sending paper mail are numbered, think again. Zack says there’s an endless demand for private mailboxes. The new space allowed them to add 300 more. The expansion also gives them more capacity to serve customers and meet the growing need for secure, convenient mailbox services, such as receiving and holding packages in a safe place. 

“I think there’s something special about receiving not just something in the mail but an item that is sent from someone you know personally,” he says.

What’s the craziest shipping request Zack’s ever encountered? “We once overnighted a fresh order of In-N-Out to someone in Florida for that taste of home you can’t get on the East Coast.” 

Signed. Sealed. Delivered.