Offering four decades of knowledge

   HOULTON, Maine — For more than four decades, Horten Building Supplies has been serving the needs of builders both professional and amateur in the greater Houlton area. If a home construction or renovation project has gone on, there’s a good chance some of the materials came from Horten Building Supplies.
In a day when “big box” hardware stores are becoming more common, Horten Building Supplies takes pride in the fact that they are locally owned and operated.
“We stock everything from the chalk line to lay out your lot to the chimney cap when you are done,” said owner Kent Horten. “And our staff has full knowledge of everything we sell. Satisfying the customer is the key.”
A family business since its inception, Horten Building Supplies opened its doors in 1967 when Laurence and Shirley Horten, Kent’s parents, bought out Henry Briggs Inc. The company was originally located on North Street, in the area that is now Riverside Park.
The operations included retail sales, construction crew and custom planing and milling in the basement of the original building. As inventory increased and space was needed, Laurence Horten purchased the adjacent building, a four-story apartment building commonly referred to as “the Bee Hive.” The bottom three floors were used for warehouse space.
The business expanded to Military Street where it included several warehouses adjacent to the main retail building. The main retail building is 3,600 square feet, while the warehouses feature about 27,000 square feet. By staying independent, Horten Building Supplies is able to stock any item it chooses.
“We’re still independent,” Kent said. “The wholesalers we buy from know and appreciate the fact that we are independent. We also have a steady customer base and have built up sales history with them over the years.”
Today, Horten Building Supplies’ staff includes Kevin McGary, Brad Butler, Chase Brewer, Jason Fitzpatrick and Tanya Fitzpatrick.
“Our crew does more, with less than any other establishment I have visited,” Horten said. “We may not have all the answers to our customers’ needs, but we will do our research and find the solution.”