Hall of Justice (studio)

Early history

The complex first opened as a produce stand in 1911. It served as a retail location for most of the twentieth century, and was vacant by the 1970s. Jack Weaver purchased the space and named it Triangle Recording in 1976, recording a series of 7"s by bands like Pell Mell and the Blackouts.

Chris Hanzsek and Jack Endino moved into the space in June 1986, renaming the studio Reciprocal Recording. The studio became famously responsible for all but inventing the grunge movement; Soundgarden and Nirvana recorded early demos at the studio, with the latter completing its debut album Bleach (1989) at Reciprocal. Hanzsek left the space in 1991, while engineer Rich Hinklin continued on, renaming the complex Word of Mouth. In 1993, the space was renamed again to John & Stu's, named after producers John Goodmanson and Stuart Hallerman. Goodmanson, Hallerman, and Phil Ek utilized the space to track dozens of bands, including Sleater-Kinney, Harvey Danger, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse.

Recent years

In 2000, in partnership with Barsuk Records, musician and producer Chris Walla began overseeing the space. Walla began working as a producer with Nada Surf, Hot Hot Heat, and the Decemberists, as well as with his main project Death Cab for Cutie, with whom he recorded Transatlanticism (2003). Death Cab took over the lease in 2004 and used the studio as a practice space for four years. In 2010, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes took over the complex, reverting it to it former name Reciprocal. A writer for Spin described the space in a 2011 cover story: "The windowless exterior was once painted brown, but the color has faded and flecked off. Cracked shingles curl up off the roof, and inside the studio, tattered walls and well-worn carpeting give it all the charm of an abandoned church basement."

Walla returned to the studio in 2011, and oversaw an extensive renovation of the space. Walla has continued to record bands in the space, including Lo Moon, the Paper Kites, and Ratboys.

In 2025, Walla sold the studio to local musicians Mike V. Davis, Sam Rosson, Mikey Ferrario, and James Kasinger. Walla had sought someone else to run the studio after moving overseas in 2014, as it was difficult to manage Hall of Justice from afar while still recording bands during visits to Seattle. Its new owners launched community classes to teach studio basics while generating revenue, ensuring the nearly 50-year-old studio remains a creative hub for future generations. Clients have included Pool Kids, Alvvays, and Pinegrove.