The cherries might come back to the big apple! According to recent news reports and an exclusive article from BKMAG, the Dubai-based parent company of the global nightlife brand Pacha (operated under FIVE Holdings) is expected to acquire Avant Gardner and its infamous Brooklyn Mirage venue in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This move is widely interpreted as a plan to rebrand the space to Pacha New York — effectively bringing the Pacha club brand back to New York, just 10 years after the first Pacha NYC closed its door back in 2025, though at a different location than the original Hell’s Kitchen club.
When Pacha New York opened its doors in December 2005, it wasn’t just another nightclub—it was an ambitious attempt to transplant the spirit of Ibiza into the heart of Manhattan. Located at 618 West 46th Street, the massive, multi-level venue quickly became one of the most influential dance clubs in North America. Behind its success was a tight network of investors, promoters, and DJs who shaped its identity for a full decade. Musically, Pacha NYC hosted a who’s who of electronic dance music. DJs such as Danny Tenaglia, Carl Cox, James Zabiela, and Lee Burridge were frequent headliners. In its later years, the club also embraced the EDM boom, welcoming artists like Sebastian Ingrosso, Alesso and Afrojack.
At the core of Pacha New York were Eddie Dean, the club’s co-owner and president who oversaw its business strategy and long-term vision, and the late Erick Morillo, co-owner and resident DJ whose global reputation and Subliminal Records legacy gave the venue instant musical credibility and anchored its sound in authentic house culture. Behind the scenes, Rob Fernandez, director of promotions and bookings, shaped the club’s identity by curating lineups that balanced underground integrity with mainstream appeal, making Pacha a key stop for top international and emerging DJs. The venue also operated under a licensing and branding partnership with The Pacha Group in Ibiza, whose iconic name and global prestige—while not directly involved in daily operations—gave Pacha New York immediate international recognition and cultural cachet.
📷 : Photo Credits : Alesso @ Pacha NYC in 2011
Its permanent closure in January 2016 marked the end of an era. Yet its legacy remains strong. For ten years, it stood as a rare example of a truly large-scale, globally connected club in New York—powered by visionary owners, skilled promoters, and world-class DJs who collectively made it a defining chapter in the city’s nightlife history. A legacy that suit perfectly the current ambitions of FIVE Holdings, the parent company of the Pacha brand, which has recently announced a $500 million global investment and expansion plan, targeting new growth across the United States and Asia.
As FIVE looks to scale internationally by reviving iconic nightlife brands and destinations, the cultural weight and proven global appeal of Pacha’s New York history along with the recent difficulties of Avant Gardner sound like an ideal opportunity for FIVE Holdings’ broader strategy to scale proven, globally resonant nightlife brands in key international markets.
📷 : Photo Credits : Danny Wade CC License
Avant Gardner, the parent company behind the Brooklyn Mirage, has faced mounting problems in recent years stemming from rapid expansion, financial strain, and operational setbacks. Once celebrated as one of New York’s premier large-scale electronic music venues, The Brooklyn Mirage, The Great Hall, and Kings Hall — all part of the 80,000-square-foot Avant Gardner complex became plagued by repeated delays, construction and permitting issues, safety-code violations, and cancelled shows—particularly during the 2024–2025 seasons—eroding trust among artists, promoters, and fans. These challenges were compounded by heavy debt loads and rising operating costs, ultimately pushing Avant Gardner into Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in 2025. The prolonged closures and uncertainty surrounding the venue’s reopening turned Avant Gardner’s Brooklyn Mirage from a nightlife success story into a a real mirage, long promised on the horizon of the electronic music scene in New York.
According to our sources, in late 2025, the venue’s assets were acquired by a lender (Axar Capital), and now that holding — backed by Pacha’s parent company — is moving forward with the purchase, reportedly intending to relaunch the space under the Pacha New York name. At this stage, the sale and rebranding are reported but not formally confirmed with full details from official financial filings or press releases from The Pacha Group or FIVE Holdings but If the deal follows through, it would mark a major return of the Pacha brand to NYC nightlife — albeit in a new and much larger club/venue format rather than the classic Hell’s Kitchen nightclub.
Check out our article about another iconic venue set to reopen soon : Le Palace in Paris.
📷 : Cover Photo Credits / Pacha Ibiza / Maria Marv CC License
