Skullcandy building at 6301 N Landmark Dr, Park City, UT Photo: TownLift

'We’re staying in Kimball Junction. This is our home, and we’re committed to it.' ~ Skullcandy CEO Brian Garofalow

PARK CITY, Utah — Skullcandy is relocating its global headquarters this fall, but the audio brand isn’t leaving Park City. Instead, it’s making a short move within Kimball Junction, remaining in the same mountain town where it was founded over 20 years ago—just as Summit County prepares to convert its current building into a new civic center.

Skullcandy’s relocation, set for October 2025, follows a mutual agreement between Skullcandy and Summit County, which purchased the building in May 2024 for $17.5 million from a subsidiary of Dakota Pacific Real Estate. The seven-acre property is located next to land tied to the controversial Dakota Pacific development, and though it is not part of the proposed project, county officials have suggested it could play a role in a larger public-private partnership in the area.

From flagship office to civic hub

The 49,300-square-foot building had long been Skullcandy’s home, but the company never fully occupied the space. CEO Brian Garofalow said the oversized lease had become a financial burden.

A changing role for a familiar building

When Summit County purchased the property, officials described the deal as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop a modern civic hub in the Snyderville Basin. The site is now slated to house a DMV branch, library services, County Council chambers, conference rooms, and other public-facing programs, according to a news release from the county.

The county used sales tax revenue-backed bonds to fund the $17.5 million purchase, with officials stating at the time that no new or increased taxes would be required. County Manager Shane Scott and county council member Chris Robinson previously said continuing Skullcandy’s lease would provide revenue in the short term.

“The nice thing about the lease agreement is that it allows for cashflow on the building. As we phase into utilizing it and can phase into occupying portions of the building as we need it,” Robinson said during a county meeting on May 9, 2024.

According to a lease agreement from 2015 Under the original lease agreement between the building’s previous owner and Skullcandy, rent was set at $31.40 per square foot with a 2.5% annual escalation. By 2025, this would equate to approximately $143,785 per month in rent, assuming the initial terms remained unchanged.

Summit County Communication Director, Derek Siddoway said the county plans to ulilize the entire space.

Though the property is not included in the Dakota Pacific proposal, it’s surrounded by land that is, and sits adjacent to the controversial development site—further positioning the county’s facility in the heart of an area poised for transformation.

According to Councilmember Malena Stevens, the County Council anticipated issuing additional bonds beyond the $17.5 million purchase price to make renovations that would adapt the building for civic use. Planning and design is underway in partnership with GSBS Architects.

Summit County has emphasized that it does not intend to relocate the county seat or services from Coalville. Only programs already located in the Snyderville Basin are expected to transition to the new facility.

Skullcandy and county officials reached their new lease agreement through a series of meetings led by Skullcandy’s operations team.

“The tone of the meetings was very friendly and amicable,” Garofalow said. “From day one, the conversations were about optionality—what would we like to do, what would they like to do.”

Though the county promoted Skullcandy’s continued tenancy as a financial offset at the time of the purchase, it did not respond to follow-up questions about the revised revenue impact.

What’s next for Skullcandy

Skullcandy is leaving its longtime home but not its identity. Garofalow said the brand remains deeply rooted in Park City and is growing again after launching several new products, including a collaboration with global audio company Bose.

“We’re in the healthiest position we’ve ever been financially,” he said. “We’re growing, we’re investing in new categories, and we plan to be here for the long haul.”