Brooklyn Mirage is Nothing But an Empty Lot Now

By Scott Enman

It appears the Brooklyn Mirage and its $30 million venue expansion are officially a thing of the past, razed to the ground before a single song could ever be shazamed from its dance floor.

Brooklyn Magazine stopped by 140 Stewart Avenue to find the 32,000-square-foot venue completely gone. In its place, just an empty lot scattered with dumpsters, plywood, plastic barriers, and those rad, somehow still-unclaimed, VIP pods. The Kings Hall sign hangs from a wall crooked and defeated; the space indistinguishable from the dozens of other properties scattered about East Williamsburg’s industrial zone.

More than 30 demolition-related permits issued by the city’s Department of Buildings and Department of Transportation are posted outside the site—a welcome image for fans who may still be experiencing PTSD from the former tenant’s permitting problems. Community Board 1, which represents the area, was notified of the impending knockdown by an employee of Mirage’s parent company, Avant-Gardner, back in January, which was conservatively estimated to cost $1.5 million. The letter said the full demolition of the three-story structure was expected to be completed in April or May.

Photo by Scott Enman

With the leveling seemingly complete as of the last week of March, they appear to be ahead of schedule in terms of the demolition, but it’s not far-fetched to wonder how, with less time than the Mirage’s builders had last year, Pacha New York will be able to construct a flashy venue by their intended opening date.

For those just catching up, Avant Gardner filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August, demolition in October, and handed the keys to Pacha at the end of last year. Pacha will be taking over the space as soon as this June, if they don’t get caught up in any of the seemingly endless missteps of its predecessor. The new iteration of the club, itself a bit of a nostalgia blast of bygone NYC nightlife culture, plans to run through October, according to FIVE Holdings, the Dubai-based holding company for the brand.

“The Wait is Over. 🍒 Pacha NY x Brooklyn. It’s happening. June 2026. The world’s most iconic club brand lands in BK. Get on the VIP list for the Grand Opening. Sign Up Now,” the club said in a post on Instagram. (Commenters were quick to note that there wasn’t, in fact, a link to sign up anywhere for said VIP list.)

Photo by Scott Enman

With roughly 2.5 months until Pacha’s announced opening, former Avant Gardner executives familiar with construction deadlines, speaking under anonymity out of fear of legal retribution, anticipate the venue will be barebones and stripped-back. “I think design-wise, it’ll be a parking lot,” said one exec.

“Just the space without anything on it is valuable to them,” said a designer from the Mirage rebuild, also speaking under anonymity, as the dust is still settling on the company’s year in and out of court.

It’s unclear what the future of Pacha holds, but one thing is certain: Avant Gardner’s flagship venue is finally living up to its name.