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The Brooklyn Mirage was supposed to open over a month ago. Fans are frustrated.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Jun 10, 2025
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By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Jun 10, 2025
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East Williamsburg venue the Brooklyn Mirage remains closed over a month after it was slated to reopen, leaving fans and artists exasperated.
The sprawling indoor-outdoor show space within the Avant Gardner complex was closed for months as it underwent renovations to enhance its sound systems and expand its dance floor. It was expected to open May 1.
However, after failing to meet a final inspection from the city, the venue – which will have a 6,250-person capacity once it reopens – has remained closed. And CEO Josh Wyatt left the company late last month after less than nine months in the role.
The news has left fans disappointed and angry, and it comes at the start of the summer concert season, the busiest time in the city’s music calendar.
At least 17 artists have announced that they’re canceling or rescheduling their shows, many of which had sold out at the Mirage. Many artists say they are scrambling to find new spaces to play.
The venue is one of Brooklyn’s biggest, and offers a capacity that cannot easily be moved elsewhere.
“I am so gutted to be in this position, and my heart is broken,” said DJ Sara Landry, who was set to play the Mirage’s reopening concert, in an emotional Instagram video. “I just want to apologize to you guys and say I’m sorry that things are not going to be working as we thought that they would tonight.”
“We’re incredibly disappointed not to bring you the show we had originally planned,” record label Anjunabeats wrote in an apology to fans after moving its Anjuna NYC Takeover away from the Mirage and to three different venues.
Some fans said they saw this coming.
“I’m not surprised at all,” said Flavia Di Bartolo, who has been attending shows at the Mirage since it opened in 2017. “It’s really upsetting to see your favorite artists having to scramble, looking for venues to play at, especially when they were completely sold out at Brooklyn Mirage.”
The venue did not immediately return emails and phone call requests for comment. Its most recent statement, posted to the Brooklyn Mirage Instagram account on May 20, announced that all Memorial Day weekend shows had been moved to dates in July and August.
“Although the Brooklyn Mirage is opening later than anticipated, we are making great progress towards opening our doors,” the post said. “We take responsibility for the delay and are working diligently with the City of New York to make sure that we meet all regulations and requirements, so that we can deliver a safe and unforgettable experience for everyone.”
The mayor’s office referred inquiries about the venue to the Department of Buildings.
According to the Department of Buildings, the venue “has not obtained permits to operate as the application they submitted was not in compliance with the building code.”
Fans say that the ongoing closure, while upsetting and disappointing, is not exactly shocking: The venue has a reputation for being messy.
EDM scene regular Kayti Grubstein said she was not surprised when, at the end of May, her tickets to a June show by the DJ Tape B got rescheduled to September.
“As it got closer, I just knew that was what was going to happen,” Grubstein said. “At this point, honestly, it feels less likely that it’ll open this year.”
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Hannah Frishberg
Hannah Frishberg covers New York City arts and culture. Got a tip? Email Hannah at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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