BY JASON COHEN
For more than 20 years
Calvin Thomas put his life
on the line as a member of
the NYPD. Today, he is giving
back to his community
without his shield.
Thomas, 49, is the franchise
owner of PostNet,
which has three stores in
the Bronx, located at 557
Grand Concourse, 1451 West
Avenue and 460 E Fordham
Road. He opened his first
store in 2008 after retiring
from the 48th Precinct.
Founded in 1992, PostNet
is the leading business-tobusiness
franchise known
for providing customized,
business-enhancing print,
marketing and shipping solutions.
To help restaurants get
the word out to the community
that they are open
for business during the
COVID-19 crisis, he is offering
free flyer and menu
printing for all restaurants
(100 B/W, 20lb paper, up to
size 11 x 17 , single or double
sided). He is also calling
restaurants giving them information
on reaching customers
via mailing in the
community.
Thomas noted many people
are stuck home without
computers or printers or
simply need a helping hand.
“A lot of people are home
now,” he said to the Bronx
Times. “They have a lot of
stress and things going on
in their mind.”
He also plans to hire new
sales reps to push these
services to assists the restaurant
BRONX TIMES R 16 EPORTER, APR. 10-16, 2020 BTR
owners to get the
word out to the community
that they are open for business.
All of his locations are
deep cleaned every weekend
along with cleaning all
counters and keyboards as
used. They are practicing
social distance, providing
all the staff with protective
equipment and monitor how
many customers enter the
location at a time.
According to Thomas,
he always had that entrepreneurship
drive in him.
While being a cop was a once
in a lifetime opportunity, he
enjoys what he’s doing now.
He noted he doesn’t miss the
bullets and criminals.
“I always wanted to have
my own business and work
for myself,” he said.
When he saw the
COVID-19 crisis he knew he
had to step up to the plate.
While many places are shuttered,
people need to know
which ones are open.
From his years on the
Calvin Thomas a franchise owner of Postnet, who is helping the community
during the crisis Photo courtesy of Schawn Spivey
force, he learned it’s really
just about being proactive.
“People still need to get
access to computers and
scanning,” Thomas said.
He added that not all of
the work is for someone’s
job. Sometimes people use
him for personal stuff as
well.
Thomas acknowledged
that many of businesses in
the borough may not reopen
and even if they do, will be
in bad shape.
“If you shut down for a
few months and you have no
income coming in will that
business be able to maintain,”
he said. “This is a
rough time for a lot of businesses.”
Bronx PostNet offers free
services for restaurants
James E. MaQuade, Owner
Family Owned & Operated for over 60 years
3535 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, New York
718-792-0270
www.schuylerhill.com
If funeral homes were all the same,
Ours wouldn’t be the family choice
The families of our community so often choose our funeral home. Some come to us to pre-plan
arrangements because we offer all the options and choices they desire. Others come to us at their
time of need seeking guidance, support and the certainty of a funeral service that is correct in
every way. Should your family fi nd itself in need of our services, we hope you’ll make the choice so
many in our community have.
/www.schuylerhill.com
/www.schuylerhill.com