The UPS Store

The UPS Store is the neighborhood retail brand of United Parcel Service that focuses on everyday shipping, packing, printing, and business services for small businesses and consumers across North America. Each location is independently owned and operated by a franchisee, but tied into the broader UPS parcel network, so customers can ship domestically and internationally, handle returns, and access mailbox, virtual mailbox, document, and notary services in one stop.

The concept traces back to Mail Boxes Etc., a retail mail and business services chain founded in 1980. UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc. in 2001 and, in 2003, converted more than 3,000 U.S. Mail Boxes Etc. centers to The UPS Store name. That rebranding marked the creation of a unified, UPS‑branded retail channel that connected local storefronts directly to UPS’s logistics and delivery infrastructure.

As of March 2023, The UPS Store system includes more than 5,100 franchised centers across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Stores are typically located in neighborhood shopping centers, urban streetfront spaces, and mixed‑use or convenience‑oriented projects, with a compact footprint that fits easily into inline and end‑cap space. San Diego serves as the corporate headquarters for The UPS Store, providing franchise support, marketing, real estate, and development functions that oversee brand standards and site approval for new locations.

Over roughly the last five years, the brand has continued to expand through franchising, filling in infill suburban markets, dense urban neighborhoods, and university and office districts where small businesses, remote workers, and households generate steady shipping and business‑services demand. The system has grown from roughly the mid‑4,000s in store count in the mid‑2010s to more than 5,100 centers as of March 2023, while broadening service offerings such as printing and mailbox products that help drive regular visits.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, The UPS Store offers a nationally recognized, daily‑needs use that draws consistent traffic throughout the week and performs well in a range of center types, including grocery‑anchored strips, power centers, street retail, and mixed‑use properties. The franchise model allows the brand to backfill second‑generation space as well as open in new developments, while long‑term alignment with UPS provides brand stability and credit strength. The combination of a small, flexible box, recurring customer visits, and strong consumer awareness makes The UPS Store a practical fit in many neighborhood and community‑oriented retail projects across North America.