Global electronic musical instrument maker Moog changing Asheville offices; former CT site
ASHEVILLE - The manufacturer of a world-famous electronic musical instrument that started in Asheville is changing locations to the Citizen Times building downtown.
Synthesizer maker Moog Music has said it will shift its product design, development and engineering staff from the current Broadway St. offices just north of downtown to the 1939 Art Deco building at 14 O. Henry Ave. That comes as the Citizen Times newsroom plans this month to vacate its second-floor offices, which it had been renting since parent company Gannett sold the building to local investors in 2018. Its first floor is now the home of record maker and cafe Citizen Vinyl.
The location moves Moog toward the city center "where so much creativity and musical expression lives," said Moog President Joe Richardson in a March 15 statement.
In a follow-up interview Richardson said that Moog staff were "big fans of Citizen Vinyl" and that they appreciated CEO Gar Ragland's efforts to support music in different ways.
"And I sure hope there is a day in the future that will be collaborating with artists and bringing more music to Asheville that we can all benefit from, both commercially and as lovers of music."
In another change, Moog's manufacturing will expand at its current Weaverville location north of Asheville, a move that Richardson said will enhance assembly and warehousing capabilities and is more convenient for staff who build the synthesizers.
Founded in 1953 by Asheville inventor and sound engineer Bob Moog and used by bands across the world, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the company was sold to the international inMusic in 2023. That ended Moog's employee ownership model and was followed by the slashing of around 30 jobs, more than half of the staff, many of whom built the instruments.
Much production moved to Taiwan or other places. But since that time, Richardson said the company has added workers and expects to increase staff with the manufacturing expansion.
The change is the second move recently announced by a major Asheville music entity, with Echo Mountain recording studies saying it would leave its downtown site for a new undisclosed location.
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Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Global electronic instrument maker Moog changing Asheville location
