New Brooklyn Club ‘Refuge’ Opening Next Month With Analogue Audiophile System

Brooklyn’s about to get a new temple for the heads. Refuge, a 500-capacity club tucked inside a near-200-year-old industrial complex in Williamsburg, is set to launch next month, promising a purist’s approach to sound and atmosphere.

The project comes from nightlife lifer John Dimatteo and audio wizard Craig “Shorty” Bernabeu, the man behind the systems at Nowadays, Analogue BKNY and the 2003 revamp of Montreal’s legendary Stereo. Creative direction is in the hands of Gregory Horns, whose past work spans some of New York’s most iconic dancefloors, from Sound Factory to The Tunnel.

Bookings are still hush-hush, but Ladyfag will helm a Friday night residency, while Sundays are reserved for deep, classic house sessions. A 2026 expansion will add more rooms and bigger capacity, but the core ethos stays the same. “We want people to come for the club, not just the lineup,” Dimatteo tells us. “Every night will deliver.”

The heart of Refuge is REX, a towering, four-point analogue sound system designed by Bernabeu, with acoustic treatment from Al Fierstein of Acoustilog, whose credits include Studio 54, Paradise Garage and Sound Factory. The booth boasts custom rotary mixers, hand-built filters and a bespoke console for the most tactile, high-fidelity experience possible.

Bernabeu calls REX “full, relaxed and easy on the ears, with massive impact,” built to lift the dancefloor’s mood no matter how they walk in.

Refuge is shaping up to be one of the most sonically ambitious spots in NYC — a new home for those who live for the dancefloor.

📍 refuge.nyc
📸 @refuge.nyc for first-look images and lineups.

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