New York event complex Avant Gardner, which houses Brooklyn Mirage, has announced its filing for “voluntary” bankruptcy as of August 4.

The outdoor venue, located within Avant Gardner’s expansive complex in East Williamsburg, revealed that its owners have sought relief under Chapter 11 after experiencing “several months of financial distress.”

This announcement follows nearly nine months since the venue closed for the winter season, with plans to reopen in May, promising enhanced safety measures both “inside and outside the venue” after two individuals were found deceased and another was reportedly kidnapped while leaving the venue in 2023.

The venue underwent a $30 million redesign, but has since faced safety inspection failures and permit issues, according to local magazine BK Mag.

An anonymous source reportedly affiliated with Brooklyn Mirage described the situation as “a disaster,” stating: “Things are honestly way worse than people realize. Brooklyn Mirage definitely isn’t opening this year, and it’s looking very likely it won’t open next year either.”

In a recent Instagram post, Swiss DJ Nora En Pure announced the cancellation of her upcoming show at the venue on August 22, stating: “As many of you know, Brooklyn Mirage won’t be opening this summer.”

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

Another individual, 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, although police did not confirm this, ruling both deaths as drowning.

Brooklyn Mirage had planned to reopen on May 1, promising to introduce new lighting, signage, and rideshare drop-off zones outside the venue.

Recently, BK Mag reported that the venue was seeking a new owner after non-executive Chairman of the Board Gary Richards was overheard discussing the desire to sell Avant Gardner, claiming it was “bleeding money.”

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