BROOKLYN, NY— Over 50 Williamsburg residents squeezed into the Swinging Sixties Older Adult Center on Ainslie Street— and not to snag a spot playing dominoes.
Brooklyn’s Community Board 1 held a public hearing, drawing attention to a proposal to bring global nightlife brand Pacha into the former Brooklyn Mirage site in East Williamsburg, a venue long marked by controversy over crowd control, noise, and past operational failures.
Pacha Chief Executive Kabir Mulchandani told the board the company plans to overhaul the space with new safety and crowd-management systems, including digital entry tracking to enforce capacity limits, upgraded security screening, and shuttle buses to nearby subway stations.
He said the goal is to distinguish the new operation from its troubled predecessor.
The Brooklyn Mirage, operated by Avant Gardner, which had hosted more than 214,000 ticket holders in 2025, saw its operations collapse after a failed renovation and safety inspection raised concerns about the structural integrity of the space, leading to the cancellation of scheduled events and the withdrawal of planned demolition and redevelopment timelines.
Last May, the venue shut down its outdoor concert season and pushed the parent company into bankruptcy proceedings.
In 2023, two attendees went missing after visiting the club and were later found dead in nearby Newtown Creek.
The venue also faced additional allegations, including lawsuits tied to sexual assault claims during a 2023 Pride event, as well as criticism over aggressive security practices and multiple medical emergencies at events
Financial strain compounded the problems, with Avant Gardner carrying significant debt and later accused of continuing to sell tickets for future shows despite mounting evidence that the 2025 season would not proceed.
Management changes followed, including the removal of the company’s chief executive as the venue’s future remained uncertain.
“There’s nothing wrong with the venue or right with the venue,” Mulchandani said. “It’s about who runs the venue.”
But many residents raised concerns about noise, public safety and quality of life impacts. Some described late-night disruptions, overcrowding and strain on neighborhood services tied to large-scale events in the area.
Others supported the project, arguing that major performance venues are important to Brooklyn’s cultural economy and that new management could address prior issues.