After nearly 30 years running the Church street post office in Edgartown, Tim and Dunia Toomey look to the next chapter in their lives.
During the mid-1980s and early 1990s, Tim Toomey owned a locksmith business on the Island. He was also involved in planning several capital projects in and around downtown Edgartown. One of these was the construction of a new visitor center on Church street, with a post office and public restrooms.
Once the facility was built, the only question that remained was who would operate and maintain it.
The town put the position out for bid and there were no takers. A second posting received the same result. Then Mr. Toomey was approached by one of his best friends, T. Curry Jones, who suggested he and his wife Dunia try their hand at it.
“I went over to Church street daily for a week or so to do a market study which involved sitting on the curb with tourists and seeing who came and went,” Mr. Toomey said.
Tim and Dunia met while Tim was on vacation in Costa Rica.
Tim and Dunia met while Tim was on vacation in Costa Rica.
He watched tour buses carry droves of tourists and the beloved “chicken bus” take day-trippers to South Beach.
“There seemed to be just enough movement to make us think that the idea might be viable and we agreed to sign on.”
Tim was right, there was enough traffic to sustain a business. For nearly 30 years he and his wife have been the smiling faces greeting the community of Islanders and tourists at the combination visitor center/post office.
But this April the couple plans to retire.
“I feel it’s time for us to let it be and ride into the sunset,” Mr. Toomey said. “Edgartown has been wonderful to us. I can’t say enough about how good the town has been to us as a family growing up here, living here and as small business people.”
Tim grew up in Vermont; Dunia in Costa Rica. The couple met when Tim went to Costa Rica for a vacation. They stayed in touch, eventually got married and moved to the Vineyard.
“I didn’t even know this Island existed and I came straight from Costa Rica to Martha’s Vineyard,” Ms. Toomey said.
For their first summer on the Island, they lived in what is now the lifeguard building at South Beach.
“It was quite an experience,” Mr. Toomey remembered.
The visitor center officially opened for business in 1992. With their son Patrick on staff, the Toomeys sold bus tickets, snacks and bottles of water to the large crowds that passed through every summer day. For 20 years the family managed the entire business but then handed off the visitor center duties to the Vineyard Transit Authority and focused on the post office.
“That was our favorite part of it,” Mr. Toomey said. “We got to know a lot about people and they got to know a lot about us and we ended up really liking each other. A lot of these people are my favorite people.”
Mr. Toomey said running a small post office has its perks, like having the time to talk to customers and no huge rush to get a long line of people their packages.
Last year, just before the pandemic hit, Mr. Toomey traveled to Costa Rica and couldn’t get back.
“I went down for a short vacation and then all of a sudden there was no flight back to the Vineyard,” he said.
From March to October, Ms. Toomey was by herself at the post office.
“It was tough. It was one of the reasons we knew it was time,” she said.
Ms. Toomey acknowledged the community in helping her get through the difficult period, as well as during their career on Church street.
“It’s quite amazing all the things you trust people with and we go through together,” she said. “It’s been a great thing but it’s time.”
After the Toomeys’ final day of work in early April, the VTA will staff and maintain the Church street post office.
The Toomeys are thankful to the town for offering them the opportunity to operate the center.
“It’s why Edgartown is so special,” Mr. Toomey said. “It’s really worked out well for us and well for the town.”
Comments
Big shoes to fill for the VTA
Bob EdgartownBig shoes to fill for the VTA. Safe journey ahead to a great couple. Thanks for the friendly smiles all these years.
I wish you a most happy
Allison Doriss EdgartownI wish you a most happy retirement . I Will miss seeing Tim and Dunia, when I pickup mail or post mail. Best of luck!
You both made my trips from
Gayle Stiller Vineyard HavenYou both made my trips from the Courthouse to your post office during all those years so much more pleasant. Even those times when I had stacks of certified mail to be stamp dated I was always welcomed with a big smile! Thank you.
I feel as if I have lost good
jhkmd EdgartownI feel as if I have lost good friends. Going to the Church St. post office was less of a chore and more of a pleasure. Tim and Dunia had a unique, warm style and will be missed by many. They were a fixture in downtown Edgartown.I wish them the best in their retirement.
I'd like to commend the
Adam Wilson OAK BLUFFSI'd like to commend the Toomey's for the wonderful consistency their operation was. As a businessman running a taxi service in the '90's, I came to know Tim and Dunia as their business often requested an AdamCab to move tourists and weekenders from the "VC" as we knew it, to other parts of town. For the many visitors who came to the island off the shuttle buses, the VC was the first stop to get information, snacks and souvenir items for many day trippers coming to the Vineyard. The Toomey's operation was a sucessful part in making the island a destination resort for thousands who came to MV, mostly for just a day, to enjoy everything our island had to offer. Good luck in the next part of your lives together, you earned my respect for the wonderful job you have done running the VC as an integral part of the island's tourist economy.
Enjoy your retirement!
Paul EdgartownEnjoy your retirement!
Tim and Dunia,
Mark Snider EdgartownTim and Dunia,
Over so many years the both of you and your son, Patrick, have made such a difference for Edgartown. We have enjoyed your friendship and will miss you. We can’t imagine you “retired” just refocused! Good luck. Mark and Gwenn Snider
We will miss you.
Alex M WyomingWe will miss you.
Wishing you both a happy,
Betsy Pfau Edgartown, NewtonWishing you both a happy, well-deserved retirement Tim and Dunia. Always friendly and helpful (even during this impossible last mail season for me), I will miss you both. Hope to see you at ATF!
On behalf of the Edgartown
Erin Ready EdgartownOn behalf of the Edgartown business community, thank you for your commitment to our town and providing such a great service over the years. The Edgartown Board of Trade has been lucky to have our PO Box with you. Many thanks and all the best for a much deserved next chapter!
I am sure you will be missed
Cindy daRosa Barrett Oak BluffsI am sure you will be missed by many; but enjoy your time ahead. You are a great couple and your service to the Town of Edgartown was respected by many. Have a wonderful retirement and I know you will enjoy it all. The best to you.
Tim and Dunia, you ARE the
Sherry Purdy Edgartown and SanibelTim and Dunia, you ARE the Church Street Post Office; I am bereft that you will no longer be there. I echo all that has been said here by others but one thing that has not yet been said is that you treated our furry friends as well (perhaps even better?) than you treated all of us. Piper was always willing to walk to the PO with me, knowing right where to find you, ready with her tiny treats....somehow you always made the time to give her the attention she so loved. Much as we will miss you, I am so very happy for you to be moving into a new adventure in your lives, making time for yourselves. Thank you so very much for your kindness and your friendly smiles; be well, be happy...retirement is everything you make it!
Tim and Dunia, go in peace
Dana Anderson Honolulu, formerly EdgartownTim and Dunia, go in peace and enjoy every second of retirement...I loved seeing you every day except when you toggled back and forth to Costa Rica.
Be well. My love for you both rides the ethers from here in Honolulu to you there in E'town or Costa Rica.
Tim and Dunia - you are going
Jennifer Blum EdgartownTim and Dunia - you are going to be so missed! I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know you both over the years, and now it's time to celebrate your year round move to the home you've built in CR and see more of Dunia's family, with occasional grand-baby visits up north (and to the Vineyard:) I look forward to keeping in touch - wishing you a smooth move and much happiness in your PURA VIDA!
Add new comment