A brand-new addition to New York’s nightlife is about to arrive. Refuge, a 500-capacity venue housed inside a nearly 200-year-old industrial complex in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is gearing up to open its doors next month.
The project is helmed by veteran event producer John Dimatteo and acclaimed audio engineer Craig “Shorty” Bernabeu – the man responsible for the sound systems at Nowadays in NYC and Analogue BKNY as well as the 2003 re-design of Montreal’s legendary Stereo. Creative direction comes from Gregory Horns, whose CV includes iconic rooms like Sound Factory, The World and The Tunnel.
While full bookings are still under wraps, Refuge has confirmed a Friday night residency from nightlife powerhouse Ladyfag, with Sundays locked in for dedicated classic house sessions. The club is also planning an expansion in early 2026, with more rooms to accommodate larger crowds.
Dimatteo says the mission is simple: to create a venue that DJs want to play, that punters want to return to, and that peers can be proud of. “We want people to come out any night of the week for the club itself, not the lineups” he explains. “The experience will always deliver.”
At the centre of Refuge is REX, a 10-foot-high, four-point analogue sound system designed by Bernabeu, with acoustic engineering and treament from industry legend Al Fierstein of Acoustilog — the man behind the sound at Studio 54, Paradise Garage and Sound Factory. The booth comes kitted with custom rotary mixers, hand-built filters and a bespoke console, ensuring the sound is as pure and tactile as possible.
Bernabeu describes the REX sound system as “full, relaxed and easy on the ears, with a huge amount of impact,” adding that the aim was to build a system that could lift people up, even if they arrive in a low mood. “That’s the power of high-fidelity sound done right,” he says.
Refuge looks set to become one of the most sonically impressive spaces in the city — a dedicated hub for those who live for the dancefloor. Sign up for more information and the first lineups at; refuge.nyc
Follow on IG for first look photos and lineups; @Refuge.NYC
