Planet Music has been the go-to store for anything music in Lismore for the past 25 years.

Owner Peter Miller turns 75 next month and wants to retire to focus on other aspects of his life like his ministry at Lismore Revival Fellowship where he is the Pastor.

Peter wanted to leave Planet Music in good hands and continue the brand that he has built since 1997 when he first got into the music industry.

New owner Matt Bone is not only a working musician, playing double bass and electric bass in three bands around the Northern Rivers, but used to work for Peter at Planet Music for 8 years, two and a half of those as manager between 2002 to 2010. Matt is not new to Lismore and the Northern Rivers having moved here in 1989 to study music at SCU.

"I've always had an idea of owning my own business and I've really loved the world of music retail. I've worked for Planet Music and Byron Music for twenty years now so I've got plenty of experience and the opportunity just came up. I was talking to Pete and he told me the circumstances and so we've come to an arrangement."

As for where in Keen Street, Planet Music will open its doors? Matt is tight-lipped because the lease has not officially been signed but you can expect the move to be complete by mid-December.

Keen Street is fast becoming THE main street in the CBD block with a new footpath to be completed soon with seating and a number of new shops that have opened as well as others that have reopened since the February 28 flood.

'The building has windows on the north side so loads of natural light," Matt explained, "And there is lots of space down the back so hopefully I can fill the tuition rooms and get the music school up and happening, hopefully before the school term starts next year."

With any new business in the CBD, the question about the flood level and flood plan inevitably arise. Matt said this building has a mezzanine level that is above the 2017 level so a good two metres off the ground with the time frame of moving all the instruments onto the mezzanine of about three hours with some assistance.

Retiring owner Peter Miller told the Lismore App "I'm extremely pleased that the business is continuing and our customer records and everything is going to continue with Matt, who I have every confidence in."

"The opportunity to retire, I turn 75 next month so it's probably time to go, came up when we had an offer on the building and that was the clincher for us."

"Lismore is a music town. After the flood, I began to appreciate that we are almost an essential service for mental health and all the issues. The well wishes that we received and the goodwill that was evident, not pretence but seriously, genuinely pleased that we had reopened, really highlighted something that I wasn't aware of, to be honest."

Peter had no experience in music when the opportunity came up in 1997 to buy Nicholas Music in Magellan Street when Bruce Nicholas retired. Peter rebranded to Planet Music and moved to the Molesworth Street building in 2004.

"I'm a bit amazed to hear stories from people, younger people, telling us that you've been here all my life. The store has been here longer than I can remember. So, I have been around a while and I haven't appreciated that as much."

Matt chimes in, "We want to continue what Peter has created. We're going to stock similar lines, all the good gear like Yamaha, Fender and Epiphone, all the name brands are still going to be in the store."

"It's going to be a professional store that caters for the working musicians but also for people that want to start out, young kids and schools. It is going to cater for everyone."

As for Peter, what does retirement look like?

"Busy," he laughs," I'm a pastor in a church and I've got plenty to do there, I've got a little recording studio, I'd like to do work there and do some painting, artwork. So, I'll be busy, I won't be looking for something to do."

"It has been a pleasure. I never expected to be in the musical instrument retail area and when I started I had no experience, unlike Matt, so that has been a learning curve over the 25 years, how to stay in business. But I realised along the way that I could be doing a lot worse things than selling musical instruments for a living. It really is a gift for life."

The last day of trading in the Molesworth Street Planet Music shop will be Monday, December 12.

Starting this Wednesday, Peter will be holding a sale starting at 15% and increasing the percentage as December 12 draws near. You may think waiting until the last minute is a smart play with the best sale price but stock may not be available on your item so it is best to get in and have a chat to Peter and the staff quickly.

You will find Planet Music at 25 Molesworth Street, next to the Colemans Bridge roundabout on the Browns car park side with parking available out the front of the store. Planet Music is open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturday 9am - 1pm.