Posted at: 08/17/2009 10:48 PM
Updated at: 08/18/2009 7:41 AM
By: Axel Gumbel

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Taopi's Tiny Treasure

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- Imagine a business, not much larger than a shed serving less than a dozen customers a day, going strong for more than a hundred years.

In a time when many small businesses are buckling under the pressure of a struggling economy, that's nothing short of amazing.

Driving along highway 56 through Taopi, Minnesota, you could almost miss it.

"Post Office, It's the only thing here."

But it's been in this town, population 93, for more than 140 years.

“I just heard it's the smallest in Minnesota, and the second smallest in the United States, but I'm not positive," said Postmaster Joice Wagner.

Neither is the Postal Service.

We contacted the national headquarters several times to confirm the Taopi branch is indeed the smallest in Minnesota, but no one seems to really know.

What we do know is this: the building covers a 9 by 17 foot area and only the post office in Ochopee, Florida can beat that.

No matter how small, Postmaster Joyce Wagner says she's enjoys her job.

"You get to meet lots of people."

Well, that might be an overstatement.

"Sometimes I have a trucker stop by."

On average, Wagner says she sees about 10 customers a day, customers like Ruth Kiefer.

"We really enjoy this post office."

Ruth comes here every morning for her mail and some conversation.

"Oh yeah, very nice, we really like her, she is very friendly," said Ruth Kiefer.

Wagner says she enjoys seeing every single one of her customers because most of the time she is doing anything but handling mail.

Things like filling out logs, because sorting the mail actually only takes her 5 or 10 minutes.

So how can this tiny post office stay open, when others around the country are closing because of budget cuts?  

Wagner points out the postal service only rents the Taopi building, so there's no cost for upkeep.

And that is thanks to a dedicated owner.

“It needed a sign, so she got it. And it needed siding, so she sided it".

This little post office will likely serve its customers for years to come.