Bend’s Stereo Planet collaborates with Smith Rock Records for grand reopening

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Stereo Planet, a Bend business for 45 years, is reopening its doors at a new location in downtown Bend. The grand reopening celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 5, 2026, at 6 p.m. at 1008 NW Bond Street.

Stereo Planet is collaborating with Patrick Smith, a longtime Central Oregon resident and local music fixture who owns Smith Rock Records and his team. This collaboration brings decades of musical knowledge and "crate-digging" culture, creating a destination for seasoned audiophiles, longtime collectors, newcomers and younger listeners.

Smith Rock Records confirmed to KTVZ News that they have moved full-time to the Stereo Planet location. Though the celebration is planned for June 5th, Smith Rock has been open and operating out of the location for several weeks. They still have some items at their old Oregon Avenue address. It's not clear who will take over the lease when they have fully moved out.

The event will coincide with Bend's First Friday art walk. The store aims to encourage the community to rediscover sound and spark curiosity about new listening adventures, signaling a return to human connection with music.

The newly reimagined space will feature a curated blend of high-performance stereo systems, vintage audio treasures, vinyl records and CDs. Visitors can explore musical discoveries spanning generations and genres.

Jon Houston, owner of Stereo Planet, explained the store's philosophy. "This isn't about selling "gear,"" Houston said. "It's about helping people fall back in love with music. When someone hears a favorite album through the right system for the first time, it can genuinely move them. That experience never gets old."

The grand reopening celebration will include music, BBQ, beverages and special in-store experiences. Guests can expect live listening sessions and music conversations with passionate experts in a relaxed environment centered around discovery and experience.

In an era dominated by compressed audio, endless scrolling and disposable content, Stereo Planet aims to emphasize that music still matters, as does the way it is experienced.

The grand reopening event, hosted by Stereo Planet and Smith Rock Records, will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026, during the First Friday celebration in downtown Bend, Ore.