Building a Music Legacy in Brooklyn: Inside Domino Records’ Longtime DUMBO Home
October 1, 2025
Two Trees sat down with Kris Gillespie, Managing Director of Domino Records US, to talk about the label’s early move from Manhattan to Brooklyn, what has kept them in DUMBO for twenty years, and how the neighborhood has evolved alongside their roster of globally influential artists.
Q: Kris, can you tell us a little it about yourself and your role at Domino Records?
Kris: My name is Kris Gillespie. I’m the Managing Director for Domino Records here in the United States. Domino is a London-based record company that was founded in 1992. We established our US operations in 2001, and I joined shortly after that. Around the same time, in March of 2004, we moved our US office to DUMBO.
Q: Can you tell us more about Domino Records, what you do here in the US, and some of the artists you work with?
Kris: Domino is, at heart, an old-fashioned record company. We make records and CDs, and of course we work in the digital space through streaming. We also have a publishing arm, Domino Publishing, which represents our songwriters and helps manage their creative work.
Here in the US, our focus is on marketing, promotion, A&R, and supporting the artists we sign. When we first moved to DUMBO there were three of us. Today there are about twenty-five people in this office, along with a small team in Los Angeles. We work with musicians from all over the world. Some of our key artists include Wet Leg, who just completed a major US tour, as well as Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, and Animal Collective. It is a wide and exciting range of music.
“Bringing the label out here made sense for us, and I think we were one of the early companies to make that move. Many others followed. I’ve never regretted it.”
Q: The move from Manhattan to Brooklyn is a common story across our DUMBO office tenants. Can you tell us a little bit about that transition and what the experience was like?
Kris: We moved to Brooklyn in late 2000 after having our office in Manhattan for several years. At the time, it felt like a new frontier in terms of creative energy and also real estate. The cost of space in Manhattan was rising quickly, and Brooklyn provided an opportunity to build something different. Bringing the label out here made sense for us, and I think we were one of the early companies to make that move. Many others followed. I’ve never regretted it.
Q: For companies considering a move from Manhattan to Brooklyn, what would you tell them?
Kris: A lot has changed since then. People are far more comfortable moving a business to Brooklyn now, especially as so many young professionals live here. It no longer feels like a leap. Nearly all our employees live in Brooklyn, so the commute works well and the neighborhood feels very connected to where our team already is.
“As more businesses and residents have come in, the neighborhood has become more lively and dynamic. The whole area feels energized.”
Q: How has being in DUMBO shaped Domino’s growth and the way your team works?
Kris: DUMBO has given us room to grow at every stage. We started with three people in 45 Main Street, moved to 55 Washington as we expanded, and eventually came to our current space at 20 Jay Street in 2014. Each move reflected the natural growth of the company. We have considered other neighborhoods from time to time, but DUMBO has always fit our needs. Being here has felt right for the team and for the way we operate.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working in DUMBO day to day?
Kris: It has become such a vibrant place. When we first arrived, 45 Main Street was really one of few commercial buildings here and there were limited amenities in the area. It felt a bit edgier then. As more businesses and residents have come in, the neighborhood has become more lively and dynamic. The whole area feels energized.
Q: And finally, what is your favorite local spot in DUMBO?
Kris: I would say Celestine. It has a fantastic view and the food is wonderful. We are also close to 68 Jay Street Bar, so you will find us there after hours from time to time.
