Julie Chang brightens the Orinda Post Office
Any resident who has visited the Orinda Post Office will know without a doubt who I’m highlighting as this month’s “Reasons I Love Orinda.” Her name is Julie Chang, and she is the ever-upbeat, always-present-face working the customer service counter.
Since 1998, Julie has welcomed everyone who walks through the door with a cheerful greeting, conducted transactions with efficiency, and always wishes customers a good day on their way out.
She knows her regulars by name, and they know hers.
Working in a post office has its challenges, especially around the holidays, but Julie keeps her cool. She manages to stay so cordial after nearly three decades serving the public, simply because, “These are my customers,” she said. “My parents taught me to be respectful and pleasant. I don’t bring anything to work that is bothering me.”
Like clockwork, she first stops across the street at Cafe Teatro for her morning cup of coffee before every shift. Owner Joe Cho said she’s been doing this every day for the last two decades.
For 28 years, she has weighed care packages bound for college dorms and has had a front row seat to our procrastinations trying to get holiday cards out before the deadline.
Her tenure is more than just longevity. It’s part of the fabric of what makes Orinda feel like home. It’s people like Julie Chang who remind us that connection is built in small, everyday exchanges.
Julie Chang, the ever-cheerful face of the Orinda Post Office since 1998, has greeted residents with warmth, efficiency and kindness for nearly three decades.
