Marine Home Center Sells Appliance Business To Norton-Based Yale Appliance

One year after announcing that it would stop selling major appliances, Marine Home Center, the largest island-based retailer of home goods on Nantucket, has sold its remaining appliance service operation to Yale Appliance.

"As the company continues to focus on its core business, Marine Home Center has reached agreement with Yale Appliance to acquire its appliance service operations effective October 1, 2024," said Marine Home Center president Walt Spokowski. "Yale is one of the largest and most service-oriented appliance companies in New England. We believe Yale shares many of the same positive values of Marine Home Center, especially how they treat their employees and their customers."

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Norton, Mass., Yale Appliance already has showroom locations in Framingham, Hanover, and Dorchester, with another in Hyannis opening soon. The company will lease Marine Home Center's appliance service office at 5 Bayberry Court (located next to Wicket Island Bakery), which it plans to convert and reopen as a showroom in the spring of 2025.

Leo Goncalves, vice president of operations for Yale Appliance, stated the company had retained all of Marine Home Center's remaining appliance department employees. Those staff members were informed of the sale on Tuesday.

"We at Yale Appliance are excited to be joining the Nantucket community and taking over on-island appliance sales and service from Marine Home Center," Goncalves said. "We have retained every Marine Home Center Appliance employee, and are committed to continuing the excellent service that Marine Home Center has provided its employees and customers. It is our priority to ensure that these strong relationships continue. We will put our best foot forward to serve the island. Yale is eager to become a part of the community and looks forward to building on Marine Home Center's legacy."

Last September, Marine Home Center stated that it would no longer accept orders for large appliances - including refrigerators, cooking ranges, freezers, washers, and dryers - but would continue providing repair services and support for customers who had previously purchased appliances. Over the past year, the company continued to sell small appliances like air conditioners, dehumidifiers, televisions, compact refrigerators, countertop microwaves, and garbage disposals. Spokowski said Marine Home Center will continue to sell those items even after Yale Appliance gets established.

Marine Home Center has been owned by the real estate investment firm Intercontinental, led by Nantucket summer resident Peter Palandjian, since 2008, when the company and land holdings were sold by Denis Gazaille and Marine Lumber Co. for $43 million