TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Manning Music is celebrating 40 years in business, made possible by the passion of the Manning family.

In 1985, Becky and Cliff Manning cut the ribbon outside Marquart Music in the Brookwood Shopping Center. Little did they know then that after 40 years and a name change later, it would become the cornerstone of band and orchestra stores in Northeast Kansas.

What Becky thought would be a fun retirement venture turned into a decade of blood, sweat, and tears. After 10 years, when she was ready to retire and close up shop, her son refused to let that happen.

Todd Manning and his wife, Deb, were proud to uphold the family tradition.

“We didn’t want to let it go, and we were able to build on everything,” Todd Manning said.

What started as the smallest of five school-oriented music stores in Topeka boomed into the largest in Northeast Kansas. Manning Music currently has 15 full-time employees and more than 20 private music instructors.

Todd says the loyalty of their customers and employees has allowed them to outlive many.

“I have a guitar teacher downstairs that’s been with us the entire time we have owned it, so all 40 years,” he said. “I have a lot of long-term employees who have all made this work.”

Manning Music serves 60 school districts.

Every time he’s ready to call it quits, Todd says it’s those kids who fuel him to keep going.

“There’s nothing better than getting a fourth and fifth-grade student started on their first instrument. How excited they are,” Todd explained. “ You can see the light just turn on.”

Manning Music has been operating out of its 6th Street location for about 12 years now. They also added a second location in Manhattan back in 2017 and opened their own repair facility to accommodate increased demand.

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