One of Brooklyn’s largest music venues, Avant Gardner, has been sued by a security firm it hired to carry out monitoring mandated by the New York State Liquor Authority following years of scrutiny regarding Avant Gardner’s ability to safely supply alcohol and keep its patrons safe.
T&M Security LLC, the firm chosen to monitor Avant Gardner, filed a six-count civil lawsuit accusing the venue of breach of contract, defamation and other civil charges in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday. T&M is seeking at least $2.6 million in damages after Avant Gardner allegedly illegally ended its monitoring agreement prematurely and refused to pay T&M.
At time of publication, Avant Gardner had not responded to requests for comment.
This most recent lawsuit is seemingly the second being lobbed at Avant Gardner this month alone. Past patrons are suing the venue for $7.5 million after allegedly being harassed and assaulted by security guards, the Bushwick Daily reported on Aug. 8.
A troubled history at Avant Gardner
Spreading across an entire East Williamsburg block, Avant Gardner, which houses three separate venues including the Brooklyn Mirage, has been engaged in a struggle with the State Liquor Authority for the past five years after the SLA continuously voiced its concerns about safety on the premises. The venue opened its doors in 2017. By the end of 2020, the SLA had issued 23 disciplinary charges against Avant Gardner, according to a report from Brooklyn Magazine.
Avant Gardner owner Juergen “Billy” Bildstein, has previously accused the SLA of targeting his business, citing a $100,000 fine Avant Gardner was required to pay following the SLA’s disciplinary charges.
Meanwhile, the SLA — which controls Avant Gardner’s ability to sell alcohol through a liquor license — has accused the venue of not controlling “rampant” drug use reported at the space and raised concerns about a number of deaths of individuals who have attended concerts or…
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