The future of one of New York City’s most iconic venues, Brooklyn Mirage, is now uncertain, as the club is reportedly losing money and actively searching for a buyer. Owned by Avant Gardner, the sprawling Bushwick venue has been at the center of speculation in recent weeks, with multiple reports indicating financial instability and management upheaval.
Talks of Selling Avant Gardner
According to BK Mag, Gary Richards, non-executive Chairman of Avant Gardner’s board, was overheard discussing efforts to sell the company. “They want to sell Avant Gardner because it’s bleeding money,” he allegedly said, though finding a buyer is proving difficult in the current market. Sources inside the organization confirmed that if a sale doesn’t happen soon, bankruptcy is likely.
Staff Facing Unpaid Wages
An operations team member at Avant Gardner told BK Mag that the financial situation is so dire that some employees have gone months without pay, and holiday incentive wages have also gone unpaid. “As far as speculation goes from me, this summer is a wash,” the employee added, painting a grim picture for the upcoming season.
Bureaucratic Roadblocks and Venue Shutdown
The situation is further complicated by regulatory issues. As of July 3, the New York City Department of Buildings still had not approved the venue’s application for a Temporary Place of Assembly Certificate of Operation, a required permit for outdoor gatherings of more than 200 people. Without it, Mirage legally cannot host events, and the $30 million revamped venue has remained empty for over two months.
Missed Reopening and Cancelled Shows
Brooklyn Mirage originally closed for winter in November 2024 and was scheduled to reopen May 1, 2025, with enhanced safety protocols following concerns raised earlier in the year. However, that reopening never happened. In July, a wave of show cancellations, including two dates of Black Coffee’s residency, added to the uncertainty. At the time of writing, Lee Burridge’s July 13 event is still listed with tickets on sale, suggesting a possible attempt to resume operations.
Leadership Shake-Up and Fan Fallout
Behind the scenes, the venue has also faced major leadership instability. In May, CEO Josh Wyatt was fired after only a short tenure, which included four weekends of cancelled events. The cancellations stemmed from safety inspection failures, missed construction deadlines, and what BK Mag described as a worsening relationship with fans.
A Fading Icon?
Once celebrated as one of the world’s most ambitious clubbing spaces, Brooklyn Mirage now faces a crossroads. With massive debt, employee unrest, regulatory hurdles, and stalled programming, the venue’s future hinges on either a last-minute buyer or the looming possibility of bankruptcy. For now, the beats have stopped, but all eyes are on whether they’ll return.