The last-minute frenzy of shipping packages and cards at Christmas can be overwhelming, and the last thing many people want to do is make another run to the post office.

But in Somers from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, people look forward to going to the post office and many of them have nothing to mail and no presents waiting for them.

It’s all thanks to the lure of Postmaster Tyler Thompson’s free fudge, made fresh every night.

“I’ve been doing this for six years now and I plan to keep doing it for many more years,” Thompson said. “People come here all the time just for the fudge. They don’t buy anything but I see them sneak in and take some fudge. I don’t mind; that’s what it’s there for.”

Thompson said the holiday fudge tradition at the post office got started when he put out some extra holiday goodies people had brought him.

“Customers bring us food all the time, but especially at the holidays,” Thompson said. “There was so much one day, I put it out and everyone liked it. I decided I wanted to do something unique, so I started with things like chocolate-covered bacon and people were really responsive.”

Then one day Thompson put out some of his special Mexican red chili fudge and became an overnight sensation.

“People come in and try and get the recipe all the time, but I won’t give it out,” he said. “Some of them have tried for years, gone through other postmasters, gotten friends and neighbors to try and get that recipe, but it won’t work. They’ve offered me money and all sorts of things, even.“

According to Thompson, he gets repeat customers from as far away as California just for the fudge.

“The snowbirds come in, and even though they don’t have anything to mail, they know they can get some fudge here; it’s kind of strange, but fun,” Thompson said. “There’s a lady from Kalispell that calls every year about it. There’s guy who’s a pharmaceutical salesman who stops here just to get some fudge; he doesn’t mail a thing. People drive here from Kalispell because the lines are usually shorter and they can get some fudge while they wait.”

Thompson makes two different versions of his chili fudge; a hot version and a not-so-hot version, but he said that even people who don’t like spicy food really enjoy the hot version.

“The red chili fudge is over-the-top good. It’s good to the point that I almost became diabetic last year from eating so much of it. It’s to the point where I can’t even eat it any more.”

Visitors to the Somers Post Office aren’t limited to just over-the-top fudge, though. Thompson and sometimes his wife have even more unique treats for their customers.

“My wife makes phenomenal caramels, and people come in daily asking about them,” Thompson said. “I make a coconut-lemon-curry fudge that’s just mind-blowing, too. And sometimes I do a Velveeta cheese fudge that people rave about, too.”

Thompson’s unique flavors come from years of fudge-making experience, as well as a love of Indian food.

“My wife and I make a lot of Indian food, and a lot of it is sweet-spicy-sour, so you learn what flavors go together,” he said. “I’ve made so much, and so many different things, so I knew what would work. The red chili fudge was a slam-dunk from the start, and when I was a kid I had a thing for fudge. When I was a kid at home, we’d always make things for Christmas. It’s always been fudge with me.”

It’s fudge for everyone else, too. Thompson makes two or three fresh batches of fudge every night. The fudge is free for people to take, and Thompson said he just enjoys giving people something unique, to brighten their day.

“I’ve never made a big deal out of it; it’s just something that’s kind of cool,” he said. “I hear the door open, hear people around the fudge and then they sneak out while I’m still in the back. They’re kind of shy about it sometimes, but it’s fun.”

Reporter Melissa Walther may be reached at 758-4474 or by email at mwalther@dailyinterlake.com.