WILTON — Dexter Supply was purchased by Hammond Lumber Co. on Monday.

Headquartered in Belgrade, the company plans to continue operations at the 946 Route 2 site in East Wilton. It is Hammond’s 13th store and is five miles from Hammond Lumber’s store in Farmington. Farmington store manager Al Feather will oversee both locations.

Most employees of Dexter Supply, owned by Kelly and Jennifer Dexter, are continuing with Hammond, Feather said Tuesday.

“We’re all trying to figure it out,” Jennifer Dexter said. “The sale went through at noon Monday.”

She will continue to work for Hammond while her husband, Kelly, indicated a desire to “take some time to decide what the next chapter of  life will bring,” in a release.

“This was an extremely difficult decision for us, but, as I’m sure everyone knows, the last several years have been very trying in the building supply business,” Dexter said.  “When an opportunity arose to sell we, after much soul searching, decided to exit.”

Hammond has kept a positive outlook and continued business as usual, Feather said of the economic challenges.

“More people are coming in asking about products, quotes and deliveries,” he said.

The goal is to keep the Wilton site going to serve the customer base developed by the Dexters, he said.

Deliveries will come from the Farmington store because of the larger facility, he said. Customer service and pickup of home building materials will continue at the Wilton store. Store computers will be in sync, he said.

“Hammond Lumber will honor all orders, current quotes and continue to serve our customers,” Dexter said in the release.

The sign above the door will be changed Tuesday and a new sign added next to the road by the end of the week, Feather said.

Several Hammond employees were conducting an inventory along with the former Dexter employees.

Debbie Paling, who worked at Dexter Supply for nine years and is celebrating her first year with Hammond in Farmington on Tuesday, said being back with former co-workers was an honor. It might be just for the initial transition and as needed, she added.

Kelly Dexter started the store in Strong 20 years ago. It was in the basement of the Health Center, Melinda Bickford said.

Bickford, who formerly worked for CAT Lumber, purchased by Dexter, has continued to work for him for the past 19 years. Around 2000 or 2001, Dexter built and moved the business to the Wilton site, she said.

More information about the acquisition and services Hammond offers is available at 1-866-HAMMOND or www.hammondlumber.com.

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