Liquor Legends is Lismore's latest shop opening but not in the CBD, it's at the top of Ballina Road at Lismore Heights heading to Goonellabah.

The old petrol station site was sitting vacant and had been for some time when Ken Ellis purchased it in 2018.

Ken was living in Lennox Head and had owned two pubs in Ballina, the Australian Hotel and a lease on Shores Bay.

This wasn't an easy ride due to the fact the site needed to be remediated, which took two years and then when the DA went in 2020 it was called up by two councillors before finally being approved.

Ken went into business with his brother Will for the new Liquor Legends store.

"We hadn't decided what we wanted to use the site for," Ken told the Lismore App.

"One option was to remediate it and sell it while we had an offer to lease it out to a pool shop but ultimately, because of my background, we decided on a bottle shop and general store."

Store Manager Jeff Beard used to work at the East Lismore Bowling Club. "It's very exciting to be open and serving the public. We've had local people coming here who are all indicating that they're very excited that we're finally open. "

Liquor Legends is part of a co-op of 350 stores so their buying power is strong to get the best prices. They offer memberships like a rewards program for further discounts.

"What we sell is across the range so beers, wine, spirits, cocktails, premixes, RTDs in the alcohol lines and then for the groceries we've got chips, chocolates, lollies, and milk and soon we'll have bread and pies," Jeff said.

Liquor Legends is not the finished product yet as the longer they are open the more they will understand what the local community needs.

"We're already getting ideas from the locals as they come in. People asking for emergency items like cereals and tin food, pet food etc," Ken explained.

Liquor Legends is open 7-days a week from 10am. The closing times vary:

Monday to Thursday 9pm

Friday and Saturday 10pm

Sunday 8pm.