The UPS Store in Tacoma got a warm welcome Friday from the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. Of course, everybody got a warm welcome – literally – with temperatures in the high 90s.

“We wanted to be in this area,” said Benjy Mogensen, UPS general manager, during the one-hour afternoon celebration welcoming the store to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.

When the postal station that used to occupy the space at 2661 North Pearl St. left, UPS moved in.

“With their departure,” Mogensen said, “we thought we could do well here.”
Customer traffic is increasing, he said, and the store is meeting sales projections. “It’s doing well.”

The newest UPS store in Tacoma opened in mid-May, Mogensen said, and has two employees. Seung Il Oh is the owner.

And this UPS team is not resting on its laurels. Other area stores owned and operated by this franchise include another store in Tacoma on North Proctor Street, as well as locations in Lakewood and University Place, according to Matt Murphy, a fellow general manager. “There’s more in the works,” he said, including a possible McChord Air Force Base location.

Joining the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber is a good way to get involved in the community, noted Mogensen, who has been with UPS for five years.

Patricia Mannie, membership representative for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, agreed, saying it was a great time to be a chamber member. “We’re happy to have you,” she said.

Company executives, employees and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber members gathered outside the front door of the store for a ribbon cutting. The ceremony was brief, owing to the sweltering temperatures, and the crowd quickly moved back inside the store.

Once inside, those in attendance enjoyed food and drink. Keys numbered for corresponding Post Office boxes were handed out; inside were prizes such as UPS pens and coupons for free services offered by the store. Business cards were collected and used to draw names for prizes – including water bottles, which were highly valued on such a hot summer day.

United Parcel Service was founded in 1907 as a messenger company in the U.S. Today, UPS is a $30 billion corporation recognized as the largest package delivery company in the world.