A U.S. Postal Service station serving downtown Minneapolis and nearby neighborhoods is partly back in business more than seven months after a fire.

The Loring Station resumed mail delivery last week for ZIP codes 55403 and 55405 from its location near the westbound entrance to Interstate 394, the Postal Service announced.

Post office box and retail services have not yet resumed, said Postal Service spokeswoman Kristy Anderson.

"Renovations are still in progress in the customer post office lobby and retail window area, with expected completion after the new year," Anderson said.

"The Postal Service will continue to do everything possible to provide uninterrupted service to the community while emphasizing the safety of our employees and customers as our first priority," she said.

Firefighters had to break through the public entrance to get to the fire at the Loring Station post office, 18 N. 12th St., late at night on April 21. The cause has not been announced, but the Fire Department has said nothing indicates that it was suspicious.

The blaze began in a backroom of the 40,000-square-foot building and charred some of the mail in the sorting area. The initial damage estimate is $700,000.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482