Avant Gardner files for bankruptcy following Brooklyn Mirage shutdown

This follows financial troubles and the venue’s sudden 2025 season cancellation.

Photo credit: Avant Gardner – Facebook

Avant Gardner, operator of New York’s Brooklyn Mirage, has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The filing follows months of financial setbacks and the cancellation of the Mirage’s 2025 season after failing to secure operating permits for its newly remodeled event space.

The company has secured debtor-in-possession financing from its existing lender and plans to sell its assets through a court-supervised process. Despite the Mirage remaining closed, sister venues Great Hall and Kings Hall will stay open and continue to host relocated events through the rest of the year.

Leadership changes accompany the restructuring: Gary Richards, formerly non-executive chairman, has stepped in as CEO to stabilize operations and steer the company toward a planned Mirage reopening in 2026. “I believe this Chapter 11 restructuring is the most viable path forward — it will allow us to stabilize Avant Gardner and focus on building for the future,” said Richards in an official statement.

The announcement was shared publicly via an Instagram post by The Brooklyn Mirage. The statement confirmed the filing and outlined the venue’s intention to restructure its operations while maintaining key spaces for ongoing programming. It also reaffirmed Avant Gardner’s commitment to its artist community and long-term recovery goals.

Read the full post below.