Echo Mountain Recording to Reopen Church Studio Feb. 1, 2026

Echo Mountain Recording reversed course on a planned shutdown and will reopen its Church studio space at 14 N. French Broad Ave. on Feb. 1, 2026. The Asheville-based company had previously said it would close at the end of 2025, but studio manager and incoming owner Jessica Tomasin said the operation is entering a new phase after more than a year of transition.

Tomasin described a disrupted expansion plan that affected the studio’s path. "We started to build a new studio out in Marshall, and then, once the storm happened and things just got really, you know, the whole project was put on hold," Tomasin said. "Then once we got back to trying to get that off the ground, things had changed for the current owner of the studio, and he was ready to retire."

The Marshall location is not moving forward and Echo Mountain’s API studio, previously located at 175 Patton Ave., will remain closed. Instead, the company is concentrating operations in the Church studio, allowing Echo Mountain to continue its roughly two-decade legacy of audio production for Asheville’s music community.

Tomasin emphasized the studio’s role in both local and broader markets. "We’re gonna be able to get back to making records with bands both locally and nationally, and we’ve also had some international clients throughout the years," Tomasin said. "We’re excited to do a series of things like educational workshops and series for the music community. There’s a few other things in the works. We’re still putting the details together, but we’re really excited about it."

For musicians and technical staff in Buncombe County, the reopening preserves a local recording option that supports session work, touring acts needing tracking time, and ongoing relationships with producers and engineers. Restarting operations is likely to keep revenue streams flowing to recording professionals and nearby businesses that benefit from studio-related activity, such as instrument shops, cafes, and venues that host artists.

The planned educational workshops could also expand workforce development in the local music economy by providing hands-on training for aspiring engineers and producers, strengthening the talent pipeline that underpins Asheville’s creative sector. While exact employment or revenue figures were not disclosed, maintaining a studio with national and international clients helps sustain nonperforming income for local artists.

Echo Mountain is already accepting reservations for the Church studio at echomountain.net/contact, with sessions beginning in February. The reopening marks a transition from legacy ownership to local leadership and signals a continued commitment to Asheville’s music ecosystem as the studio moves into its next chapter.