Tim Evans

tim.evans@indystar.com

I’ve written hundreds of stories for the IndyStar over the last 18 years, including tales about the sordid conduct of Hoosier icons like Jared Fogle, the heroic feats of average Joes, and hard-hitting investigations that prompted public officials to resign and legislators to change state laws.

But I’m not sure any of them drew the kind of reaction I got this weekend when I wrote about Jim Richter, “The Broom Guy,” getting the boot from post office property. The blind Indianapolis man had sold brooms there for 60 years. I've received dozens of emails and phone calls, and the story has been shared more than 11,000 times.

This isn’t about me, though. It’s about the public reaction to Richter, a 78-year-old who would rather work than take a handout, who loves people and a laugh, who braves the heat and cold to sell brooms on street corners, and who has a knack for inspiring nearly everyone he meets. Since I wrote the story late last week (you can read it here if you want more background), a lot has happened.

Post office boots blind 'Broom Guy'

Here’s the latest since the story broke Saturday:

A lot — and I mean a LOT — of people are upset by the way postal officials have treated The Broom Guy. And many of them, thanks in large part to a tidal wave of anger and frustration that exploded through Facebook and Twitter over the weekend, want to help do something about it.

1- He's welcome here

Three business owners, a high school and farmers market have reached out to offer Richter open invitations to come sell his brooms on their property. I’ve passed their contact information on to him.

“I had bought brooms from him for years at 71st and College and when my wife saw the article I said, ‘you’ve got to be kidding. That’s just crazy,’” said Jud Scott, who operates Vine & Branch, a tree service at 146th and Gray Road in Carmel.

Scott said 28,000 people a day pass by his business located in a century-old house, and he’d be happy to set Richter up in his yard. He even offered to send emails to all his customers to let them know what day The Broom Guy would be there.

Bev Middaugh, CEO of Bright Ideas in Broad Ripple, also offered Richter a spot in front of her business at 75th and Westfield Blvd.

“If Jim wants to set up here, there’s also safe free parking for his customers and he’s welcome to come in out of bad weather,” she said. “We can also promote him on our Facebook page too.”

“If everyone had his work ethic and life attitude this would be a better community, with far less poverty and complaining,” she said in an email. “I’ve bought brooms from him through the years, and would love to help him and show him this really is a city of good hard-working people, who are eager to help a friend!”

Brad Cross, a supervisor at the Safeway Supermarket at 5602 N. Illinois, also extended Richter an invitation.

“Please let Mr. Richter know he is welcome to sell his merchandise under our awning,” Cross said in an email.

Cross said he has purchased brooms from Richter over the years and respects the fact he is willing to get out and work (a common theme in response to the story).

“There are some folks in the world,” he said, “that just don’t do that.”

Cross said he hopes Richter is allowed to return to postal locations.

“It’s just not right in my opinion,” he said, “but if he isn’t allowed back he can come here and sell his brooms. This neighborhood would welcome him.”

The latest offer came Monday from Mike Penrose, athletic director at Lawrence North High School.

"I read your article about Jim Richter and I am extremely disappointed with the way he is being treated," Penrose said in an email. "I have lived in the Lawrence/Castleton area for over 20 years and I have bought several brooms from him through the years. My Principal, Brett Crousore, and I spoke about this situation this morning."

That conversation resulted in an invitation for Richter to sell his brooms at Lawrence North football games on Fridays.

Penrose said The Market at Hague, formerly the Binford Farmer’s Market, also is offering Richter a spot at its Saturday events held in the high school parking lot from May through October.

2 - Broom sales boom

Richter’s story also prompted a flurry of sales Sunday as Richter worked one of his usual spots at the corner of 71st and College. Many of his customers, including several first-time buyers, took it upon themselves to hunt him down after reading the story.

“Oh boy, I had a busy day,” he said Sunday evening. “I sold everything I had — three or four times what I usually sell in a day.”

Richter said he noticed a jump in business Saturday and said most of his customers over the weekend were not happy with how he was treated by the postal service.

He said customers cited one line from the story he heard repeatedly. It concerned the postal employee who he said had been rude when she told him he was no longer welcome at the Nora branch, where he had been a fixture for decades.

Readers react to "Broom Guy's" booting

“A lot of people seemed to agree with me that ‘she acted like the north end of a horse running south,’" he said.

3 - A ride home

Allison Hazel, a 35-year-old Indianapolis woman, had seen Richter selling brooms on city street corners for years. She often thought about stopping to buy one, she said Sunday, but she never had.

“I’d been thinking that the next time I needed to buy a broom," she said, "I’d get it from The Broom Guy.”

That time came this weekend, Hazel explained, as she was in the process of a move. It was only by chance, however, that she learned about Richter’s plight.

“It was on my agenda to get a new broom and when I opened my Facebook page and saw his story I was livid,” she said.

Hazel called the BP station at 71st and College and found out Richter was there Sunday afternoon. So she drove to the Northside and bought all the brooms Richter had left.

But Hazel didn’t stop there. She took a selfie with Richter, then stepped up again. She shared her experience in a Facebook post.

“Because he was out of merchandise, I offered him a ride home, which he accepted,” she wrote. “He was elated. He directed me all the way without any frame of reference from me. As we passed Culver's, he pointed right to it and said, ‘That place has great hot dogs and hamburgers.’”

Hazel said they traded jokes, and some poignant moments, as they rode across the city.

“He said ‘Tell your friend how blessed he is to have you as a girlfriend.’ I laughed and said, ‘Sometimes,’” she wrote on Facebook. “He said, ‘Well, we all have problems. It's how we deal with them that matters’ … He was absolutely delighted and delightful. I told him he was an inspiration to me and he said I was his.”

4- Far-reaching story

Some of those touched by the story couldn’t just drive to the Northside on Sunday to support Richter. I had phone calls from New York City, Pennsylvania and Atlanta, and emails from several former Hoosiers now living in new spots across the U.S.

Many had a common request: How can we buy a broom from him?

Richter said people who want brooms can call and leave him a message at (317) 899-3965.

Locally, it may take a little work to find him. Richter won't be out selling today. Monday is the day he typically replenishes his stock of brooms. Later this week he said he will likely be at one of three locations: 71st. Street and College, 62nd Street and Keystone or outside the former auto parts store on Bash Street, about a block north of 82nd Street in the Castleton area.

5 - Fighting back

Many readers also had another burning question: How can they complain about Richter being booted from the post offices where he had sold brooms for years?

That’s a little more difficult. I can't even find a phone or email listing for the Indianapolis Postmaster. And when I called the main post office last week trying to reach the postmaster, I was transferred to a PR person who wasn't in Indianapolis.

There's a online complaint form you can try. You also could reach out to your congressional representative or U.S. senator.

Tim Evans is IndyStar's consumer advocate. Call him at (317) 444-6204 and follow him on Twitter: @starwatchtim