Hammond Ford sold to Fresno couple

A long-standing Ford dealership on Mono Way was sold last week to a pair of entrepreneurs from Fresno.

Hammond Ford changed hands on Thursday after being purchased by husband and wife Manuel Prieto and Ramona Llamas of Fresno. The new dealership will be called Sonora Ford.

Llamas said they had been in talks with the business’s longtime owner, Paul Hammond, for the past eight months. They were interested in buying the business because it is situated in a high traffic area with visibility from Highway 108 as well as Mono Way.

“You can’t get a better location — I think we have the best location in the county,” Llamas said.

Customers got their first indication that the business changed hands when owners put up a new “Sonora Ford” sign. The business has operated under the Hammond Ford banner since 1982.

See story on Wednesday’s Business Page.