Chilton Furniture, the Maine-based manufacturer known for its Shaker-influenced furniture, has new owners.

Longtime owner Bill Martens has sold the company to Jennifer and Jared Levin of Larchmont, New York, according to a news release. A sale price was not disclosed for the business, which has retail locations in Scarborough and Freeport.

The Levins, who summer in Maine, expect to retain the existing management team and the company’s 11 employees, and hope to grow the business by investing in the e-commerce side of the business.

“We are particularly excited by the opportunity to grow the Internet business,” Jennifer Levin said in a statement. “Out-of-state sales have doubled in recent years to 25 percent of total. We hope to build on that momentum through online and catalog sales, and a greater investment in regional advertising.”

The new owners also expect to grow the business’s line of Maine-made furniture.

“Maine has a deep furniture-making tradition and there are some amazing craftsmen in this state,” Jennifer Levin said. “We are eager to take advantage of these unique resources and do our part to benefit the Maine economy.”

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Jared Levin works in finance, while Jennifer Levin is a former corporate attorney who decided to pursue a career as a small-business owner after staying home raising three daughters. While searching for businesses for sale, Jennifer Levin discovered Chilton. She said it met all the criteria she was looking for: “It’s a respected brand with national recognition, selling quality, American-made products,” she said.

The company traces its roots back to 1865 and went through various iterations, including as a paint company, before transitioning to furniture in the 1970s.

With the sale complete, longtime owner Martens plans to retire, but will serve as a consultant as the Levins transition into their new roles.

“The Levins are the perfect couple to carry on and expand the tradition of quality craftsmanship,” he said in a statement. “They get it. And I’m looking forward to watching them take the business to new heights.”


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