Brooklyn Made has abruptly ceased operations following a contentious legal dispute between its owners, Anthony Makes and Kelly Winrich. The Bushwick music venue announced its closure through a brief message stating all shows are cancelled with refunds available at point of purchase.

The venue, which opened in 2021, was initially a collaboration between Makes, a former Live Nation executive, and Winrich, owner of Brooklyn's Maracuja. Their partnership deteriorated into a complex legal battle, with Winrich filing serious allegations against Makes and his wife, including:

• Fraudulent inducement
• Breach of fiduciary duties
• Mismanagement of ventures
• Diversion of company funds for personal use
• False promises of lucrative partnerships, including a supposed Spotify investment

According to court documents, Winrich claims these actions led his family to invest over $75 million in various live music ventures. Justice Reginald A. Boddie addressed these allegations in a mid-February order, after which the parties reached a settlement in principle.

Makes released a statement expressing satisfaction with the partnership's end, stating: "I am very pleased that this partnership has ended and I am out of those buildings. I'm confident my 35 years of contributing to the live music business speaks for itself. I am looking forward to the next chapter."

The sudden closure has affected numerous scheduled performances, with artists like Amigo the Devil relocating their shows to alternative venues. The venue's shutdown represents another challenge for the independent venue landscape, already struggling in the current economic climate.

Related Articles

Previous Articles