David Pinto-Duschinsky MP for Hendon “cut the ribbon” (18/7) at the official opening of Brookfield Estate Post Office which has re-opened under new management at 1 Salcombe Gardens, Mill Hill, NW7 2NU.
The new owners, the Yilmaz family, are very well known and respected in the community as they run the nearby convenience store and off licence for the past 18 years.
There was no space to add Brookfield Post Office to their shop, which is four doors away in the same parade. Instead, they took on the Post Office location, which has restored Post Office services to this area of Mill Hill. Stationery and sweets are also on sale.
The new postmistress is Aysel Yilmaz. Her son, Chad, is Post Office manager. Her daughter, Ebru, also works part-time at Brookfield Estate Post Office. Husband Sinan run the convenience store with support from extended family, who also work there.
Brookfield Estate Post Office had been temporarily closed since August 2024 and Aysel knew how much her community was missing having a Post Office, especially those in the assisted living accommodation close by, so she successfully applied for the branch.
David Pinto-Duschinsky MP said: “I want to sincerely thank Aysel Yilmaz and her family for taking on Brookfield Estate Post Office in addition to their nearby store. They are already very well-known by the community, so this is a great outcome.
"With bank branch closures in the area people are very happy that they can do their everyday banking here as well as send mail, do home shopping returns and pay bills.”
Postmistress Aysel Yilmaz, said: “The community is so grateful that we have re-opened Brookfield Post Office as there are lots of elderly people in the area, but also, its very easy to visit us as we have plenty of parking right outside. As we have run the grocery and off licence store since 2009 people know and trust us, so they are very pleased that we are the new owners. We have good rapport with customers and we like to support the church just across the road."
The opening hours are Monday to Saturday: 9am - 6pm. This provides 54 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week.
It offers similar services as before.
Post Office Area Change Manager, Mo Islam, said: “We know how important a Post Office is to a community and we are delighted to have restored a branch here, especially as there have been many bank closures. The opening hours make it convenient to visit.”