King Tut at Old P.O.?

Several people have inquired about leasing Fayetteville’s historic Old Post Office building in the center of the downtown square.

The most interesting inquiry has been from a local man who claims to have a connection with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

“I was contacted by a gentleman who said he wanted to see about having an auxiliary of the Smithsonian here,” said Ron Bumpass, who owns the Old P.O.

Bumpass said the idea is to have the Old P.O. serve as a museum for Smithsonian exhibits that go on display in various cities around the country. Bumpass said there’s a similar museum in Jackson, Miss.

Bumpass said he couldn’t recall the man’s name. The man told Bumpass he would check into the matter and get back to him by mid-October.

The Old P.O. has been empty since Bumpass evicted Hog City Diner from the building on June 1.