New York event complex Avant Gardner, home of Brooklyn Mirage, files for bankruptcy

New York event complex Avant Gardner, home of Brooklyn Mirage, has filed for “voluntary” bankruptcy, the venue announced in a statement yesterday (August 4).

The outdoor venue, situated in Avant Gardner’s sprawling complex space in East Williamsburg, said its owners have filed for relief under Chapter 11 following “several months of financial distress”.

The news comes almost nine months after the venue closed for the winter season, with a promise of returning in May with heightened safety measures both “inside and outside the venue” after two people were found dead and another was allegedly kidnapped when leaving the venue in 2023.

The venue underwent a $30 million redesign, and has since failed safety inspections and permit issues, according to local magazine, BK Mag.

Read this next: Brooklyn Mirage implements new safety protocols following 2023 deaths

An anonymous source who reportedly works at Brooklyn Mirage told BK Mag that “the whole thing is a disaster,” claiming: “Things are honestly way worse than people realise. Brooklyn Mirage definitely isn’t opening this year, and it’s looking very likely it won’t open next year either.”

In a new Instagram post from Swiss DJ Nora En Pure, she revealed that her forthcoming show at the venue on August 22 had been cancelled, writing: “As many of you know, Brooklyn Mirage won’t be opening this summer.”

On June 11, 2023, 27-year-old Karl Clemente disappeared after leaving Brooklyn Mirage, and was found dead in Newtown Creek just days later. In a separate incident on July 29, 2023, 27-year-old John Castic was last seen leaving Brooklyn Mirage before he was found dead in the same creek on August 1.

Read this next: Brooklyn Mirage reportedly "bleeding money" as it looks for a new owner

Another man, 32-year-old Michael Bautista, was allegedly kidnapped outside the venue on July 22, 2023. All three incidents were speculated to be connected on social media, though police did not confirm this, ruling both deaths as drowning (per New York Times).

Brooklyn Mirage made plans to reopen on May 1, promising to implement new lighting, signage, and rideshare drop-off zones outside the venue.

Last month, BK Mag reported that the venue was searching for a new owner after non-executive Chairman of the Board Gary Richards was reportedly overheard discussing how they’d like to sell Avant Gardner, claiming it was “bleeding money”.

In a statement shared on Instagram, Brooklyn Mirage said its owners are “unable to open its newly constructed Mirage event space for the 2025 season”, though some shows will be moved to the event complex’s Great Hall, or relocated elsewhere.

Read both Brooklyn Mirage and Nore En Pure's statements below.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on Twitter