By Kathy Canavan
Kathy@DelawareBusinessTimes.com
B. Frank Shinn Paint Company, a mainstay for Delaware contractors and do-it-yourselfers since 1903, has changed hands.
Ricciardi Brothers, another family-owned Benjamin Moore Paints dealer, bought Shinn’s for an undisclosed amount last week. Ricciardi kept all 13 employees from Shinn’s stores in Wilmington, Newark, North Wilmington and Kennett Square, Pa.
Ricciardi, in business since 1929, is the largest Benjamin Moore dealer in the U.S., with 39 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and now Delaware. Its market is similar to Shinn’s ““ corporate customers, municipalities and homeowners.
“It’s a change of ownership, but we’re still a family-owned company,” Eric Ricciardi said. “Our company was started by my grandfather in 1929. “
Ricciardi said his family was attracted to Shinn’s because it, also, was an independently owned Benjamin Moore dealer, and it was attracted to Delaware because it is ready to grow beyond its New Jersey and Pennsylvania base.
“Our growth plan was to migrate south of Philadelphia into the Delaware market to service our customers who do work in all parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware,” Ricciardi said.
James Shinn could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
