Stonington — McGill Chevrolet will be rebranded as part of the Valenti auto dealership family, owner Rob Valenti confirmed Tuesday.

Valenti said the nearly 2-acre McGill dealership in Pawcatuck, which previously sold new and used vehicles, will become a Valenti used-car superstore in the first week of October with 50 to 60 autos on the lot after his purchase of the business.

Sean McGill, who has run the longtime family business for more than two decades, will stay on to manage the operation and will retain ownership of the property.

"It's a great addition to our business," Valenti said in a phone interview. "It was good for both of us. ... He's done a great job running a small dealership."

Valenti said the former McGill dealership will be added to his other properties in Mystic, Westerly and Old Saybrook, though its exact name has yet to be announced.

McGill said the decision to sell the dealership had nothing to do with lack of customers or financial difficulties; in fact, the past two years have been his busiest ever.

"I want to go back to my roots," he said in a phone interview. "I was getting away from the things I love to do, which is talk to the customers, deal with the customers."

McGill said the dealership sells about 25 cars a month with only nine employees. He said one employee is retiring, two are moving elsewhere and the others are staying on.

McGill Chevy dates its heritage to 1932, though it has had several name changes. It has been in the McGill family for nearly 70 years and had been operated as Card Chevrolet under the most recent owner's grandfather.

Valenti said all new Chevrolets sold by the company can be found at the Valenti Auto Mall in Mystic once the handover is complete. Service will still be available in Pawcatuck as well as Mystic.

Both the Mystic and Pawcatuck locations will feature used vehicles in all makes and models, including motorcycles.

"I take everything in trade," Valenti said. "This gives us the opportunity to beef up our inventory for used cars."

l.howard@theday.com