HANOVER – Gretchen Dutkiewicz’s first customer early Monday morning was a man from Boston passing through on his way to Rangeley who wanted to make sure his bills were paid on time. He dropped them in the shiny new mailbox.

He was followed soon after by dozens of Hanover people, checking out their new post office for the first time.

Many years in the planning, the blue-roofed, gray-sided post office finally opened for business on Monday at 8 a.m.

“I love it,” said Alice Peare, one of the 100 or so box renters, as she came by to pick up her mail. “It’s a bigger space so Gretchen can do her work.”

Greg Puiia, who lives on Howard Pond, liked the atmosphere, especially the bright beige, blue and gray interior. He also likes the great customer service Dutkiewicz provides. She called him on Tuesday to let him know that his children’s new backpacks had arrived at the post office, instead of at his home. He came down to pick them up, just in time for the first day of school.

“I like it, I’m glad we’ve got it,” he said.

Although Gail Parent misses the flavor and atmosphere of the old post office site, which had been in Gordie Howe’s Store, just a tenth of a mile west, she too thinks the new facility is bright and cheerful.

The new post office, at about 80-by-20 feet, is several times the size of the previous rented space.

The Hanover post office had been housed at Howe’s store since 1957, even during an 18-month period when the store closed.

Now, owner Christopher Howe is searching for a new tenant for the space at the back of his general store.

He’s thinking a part-time branch office of a real estate business might be just the thing.

“I see many people who come through who are interested in buying property,” he said.

How much the post office move has hurt his business can’t be determined just yet. It has been only three days.

“It’s hard to tell. Many customers had come in to have coffee and a muffin when they picked up their mail,” he said, adding that he’ll likely decide how best to use the space by winter.

Dutkiewicz said she encourages her customers to continue their visits to Howe’s store and do all the things they used to do.

She has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 24 years, the last three in Hanover. She receives part-time help on Saturdays and when she’s on vacation from local resident David Worcester.

“This is a wonderful community,” she said.