A note on the Closure of Cascade Record Pressings
Cascade took big risks at a time of uncertainty in vinyl and built the foundation for all that has come. We owe them a lot.
Cascade Record Pressing was one of the very first plants we studied when we began exploring what it would take to open a pressing plant of our own. When Mark and Jeff launched Cascade, there were fewer than 50 pressing plants globally, virtually no new presses or lathes being made, and almost no modern infrastructure to support a new operation. They figured it out through grit, mechanical ingenuity, and a tremendous amount of trial and error, building something that felt nearly impossible at the time. Long before Object Permanence existed, while we were still in New York only beginning to imagine what this business might become, we read and watched everything we could find about Cascade because they were proof that this could actually be done.
When Salem became the clear home for our own factory, reaching out to Mark felt like a natural next step. One of the loveliest surprises in this industry has been how willing people are to share knowledge and support, and Mark and Jeff were incredibly generous with their time, even while winding down Cascade and getting final orders out the door. They welcomed us to Milwaukee, opened their doors, and shared their experience with honesty and warmth. It was also clear, even in that final chapter, how deeply they cared about doing things the right way.
It’s completely fair to say we would not be in the position to open Object Permanence if pioneers like Mark and Jeff hadn’t taken those risks a decade ago. Cascade helped sustain far more than record pressing—they supported an entire ecosystem of mastering engineers, lathe cutting, design, manufacturing expertise, and independent artists trying to get their music into the world. Their commitment to small and midsize bands and labels left a real mark on this industry, and it’s something we deeply admire. Cascade helped rebuild and mature modern record manufacturing, and every plant that followed owes something to that foundation. We’re deeply grateful to Mark, Jeff, and the entire Cascade team for what they built, and wish everyone involved a wonderful next chapter.
— Carrie, Adam & Jason