Introduction to the Demolition of Brooklyn Mirage
The Brooklyn Mirage, a 32,000-square-foot open-air concert hall in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is slated to be razed following ongoing financial distress and a failed return this summer, according to demolition permits. Its reopening plans were just a mirage. The seasonal music venue is part of the 80,000-square-foot Avant Gardner complex, which also hosts The Great Hall and Kings Hall – both indoor venues which have shows scheduled through Dec. 6.
Background and Financial Distress
The “full” demolition is expected to cost $1.5 million. A request for comment from parent company Avant Gardner was not immediately returned. News comes after Avant Gardner said in July that it intended to sell the venue – which failed to meet an inspection deadline ahead of its planned opening in May following a large-scale renovation. The Department of Buildings revoked the venue’s temporary occupancy certificate just days before its anticipated opening, which was set to feature headliners like Sara Landry, Alesso and Peggy Gou.
The agency had numerous objections “both safety-related and technical in nature,” the DOB wrote at the time, according to Brooklyn Paper. Some of those issues included inadequate accessibility requirements, toilets and automatic fire sprinklers.
“From [the venue’s] questionable footing to the large truss at its zenith, from its cantilevered mezzanines to its exterior walls, it was potentially unsteady, combustible, illegal, and no place to put 6,000 people,” Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo said in a statement.
Bankruptcy and Debt
The parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August, calling the Mirage closure “catastrophic” for company finances in court documents. Bankruptcy records show that the venue owes various vendors more than $10 million, including a cool $1.8 million to the DJ Black Coffee Entertainment from South Africa.
“The decision to file for Chapter 11 relief follows several months of financial distress, culminating with Avant Gardner being unable to open its newly constructed Mirage event space for the 2025 season,” the company said in a public statement, adding that it was determined to “stabilize” its finances and “bring the Mirage back for 2026 and beyond.”
The Department of Buildings revoked its temporary occupancy certificate just days before its anticipated opening, which was set to feature headliners like Sara Landry, Alesso and Peggy Gou.
“Two months ago I was brought in as CEO to rebuild the Company’s culture and turn the business around,” CEO Gary Richards said at the same time. “I believe this Chapter 11 restructuring is the most viable path forward.”
Recent Controversies and Sale
Brooklyn Mirage faced a spate of bad press in recent years after a pair of ravers were found dead near the venue in 2023. The separate cases both involved concertgoers who left the isolated area. The parent company is now selling off its assets to an “affiliate” of the company’s lender, according to The Real Deal (the company has up to $500 million in liabilities and only at most $100 million in assets). A hearing for the sale is set for Oct. 22.
Conclusion
The demolition of the Brooklyn Mirage marks the end of an era for the music venue, which had been a staple in the Brooklyn music scene. Despite efforts to revive the venue, financial distress and safety concerns ultimately led to its demise. The sale of the venue’s assets and the pending hearing will determine the future of the Avant Gardner complex and its remaining venues.
FAQs
- Q: Why is the Brooklyn Mirage being demolished?
A: The Brooklyn Mirage is being demolished due to ongoing financial distress and a failed return this summer, according to demolition permits. - Q: What is the expected cost of the demolition?
A: The expected cost of the demolition is $1.5 million. - Q: What are the plans for the Avant Gardner complex?
A: The Avant Gardner complex, which includes The Great Hall and Kings Hall, will continue to host shows through Dec. 6. - Q: What is the status of the sale of the venue’s assets?
A: The parent company is selling off its assets to an “affiliate” of the company’s lender, with a hearing set for Oct. 22.
