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Image Credit: Mike Miltimore via Facebook

After 20 years at its downtown Kamloops location, Lee's Music is making way for a condo building, but it isn't the end for the long-lasting local music shop.

Co-owner Mike Miltimore said the business outgrew its Battle Street location years ago and he's looking forward to the change. While Lee's Music sets up shop in a new Kamloops location, another side of the business is partially moving to the Shuswap.

Miltimore said the 1305 Battle Street store has been sold and the new owner plans to replace it with a five-storey condo, which was approved for development by city council this week.

"When we bought this building... we were a super broke music store, barely squeaking by," he said. "We did all the work ourselves to make it work and now I know every inch of this building."

READ MORE: Well-known Kamloops guitar shop to be replaced by five-storey condo

Lee's Music and Riversong Guitars will soon be making way for a new condo building.

Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW

He said the move will be bittersweet, but it's time to go as the business expands.

Miltimore, who takes after his father with an aptitude for instrument repair, turned to building guitars, said Riversong Guitars is "taking off throughout the world."

In Sicamous, the expanded manufacturing side will be housed in a former houseboat builder's facility, while custom guitars and the Glenwood series will still be built in Kamloops.

Where the new Kamloops music store location will be located has yet to be decided, but he said there are a few prospects in the running.

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"Our business is doing well. We've got lots of things going on and we invested heavily not only in our manufacturing, but also our audio-visual side," he said.

Customers can expect to see the same faces at Lee's Music once it moves from the building, where Miltimore and his father have been selling musical instruments and equipment for 20 years.

"As we get closer to move out day, it'll be sad but also happy. This building did it's job for us. It helped us grow to the point where we're at and it's just not quite right anymore."

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