PORTLAND – The five stores operated by The Black Stove Shop, Maine’s largest retailer of stove and fireplace products, are under new ownership, according to Stephen Vlachos of Country Business in Portland.

The Black Stove Shop has been acquired by a New York based investment firm, S3 Partners LLC. “We acted as business broker and adviser to Ray and Candace Manocchio, founders of Black Stove Shop Inc.,” he said.

Black Stove Shop Inc. is a leading retailer of gas and wood-burning stoves with showrooms serving Augusta, Bangor, Waterville, Lewiston and Yarmouth. In addition to stoves and fireplace inserts, Black Stove’s product offerings include lawn and patio furnishings, and outdoor grills.

Black Stove was founded in 1975 by the Manocchios, who closed the sale of Black Stove Inc. on Oct. 1.