Brooklyn’s Refuge Founders Say Their Hi-Def Sound System Improves Every Weekend

Sound and Sanctuary: A Deep Dive into Brooklyn’s Refuge

When visionaries John Dimatteo and Craig “Shorty” Bernabeu first unveiled their plans for a new Brooklyn nightlife destination last August, they weren’t just opening a bar—they were establishing a “sanctuary for electronic music.” Appropriately named Refuge, the venue has quickly become a focal point for the city’s underground scene.

Housed within a rugged, 19th-century industrial shell situated between East Williamsburg and Bushwick, the 3,200-square-foot club accommodates 500 guests. However, the true draw isn’t just the architecture; it is the meticulously engineered high-definition sound system that acts as the venue’s pulse. The audio environment was personally designed by Bernabeu, a master of acoustics with over 20 years of experience crafting legendary systems for institutions like Stereo Montreal and New York’s Analog BKNY. Dimatteo brings the curation expertise, drawing on decades of experience as a prominent promoter and event producer in the New York circuit.

Since its inaugural event in September, Refuge has curated a sophisticated roster of talent, including Floorplan, DJ Seinfeld, Kenny Larkin, and Victor Calderone. As the venue enters its fourth month of operation, the founders are preparing to expand their reach with daytime programming and the introduction of exclusive artist residencies.

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In Conversation with the Founders

Reflecting on your first four months, how has the atmosphere evolved? Has the community response met your expectations?

What struck us most was how rapidly the room established its own rhythm. The demographic synergy has been remarkable—you have a younger generation experiencing true analog sound for the first time alongside seasoned New York clubbers who have seen it all. There is a palpable focus on the music; people are actually dancing rather than viewing the night through a phone screen. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear patrons say they are coming back for the room itself, regardless of who is behind the decks.

What is the specific aesthetic and energy you are cultivating?

Refuge is designed as a portal for escapism. Once you cross the threshold, the external world is meant to vanish. The energy is driven by the music, with the ultimate goal being genuine joy on the dancefloor. The physical space helps—being a standalone historic structure with a private outdoor area, it feels more like a communal home than a commercial venue. We wanted to recapture that unpredictable, slightly raw edge that originally defined New York nightlife, but supported by world-class audio fidelity.

In a city saturated with nightlife, how does Refuge distinguish itself?

Current New York nightlife is very talent-centric; the venue often becomes a secondary container for whatever promoter is renting it that night. We’ve inverted that model. At Refuge, the club is the headliner. We handle our own bookings and co-produce every event with outside collectives to ensure the brand identity remains consistent. You come here because you trust the “Refuge experience,” not just because of a specific name on a flyer.

Who is the ideal Refuge guest?

Our audience isn’t defined by a specific age bracket or subculture, but by a shared mindset. We are for those who are fatigued by the chaos of unrefined warehouse raves and the predictable polish of the commercial circuit. We want to see different generations and backgrounds colliding on the dancefloor. A successful night is one where you connect with someone you’d never encounter in your daily life.

Can you touch on the investment required to bring this vision to life?

The sound system was the foundation; we literally built the walls around it. A massive portion of the capital went into modernizing the 19th-century infrastructure—the electrical and plumbing requirements for a space like this are staggering. To put it in perspective, the electrical work alone cost as much as opening a standard bar. We also prioritized a floating wooden dancefloor, specifically engineered to reduce fatigue for marathon sessions.

What does the horizon look like for Refuge in 2026?

We are in a constant state of refinement. We recently debuted a custom-built DJ booth and a performance stage that integrates seamlessly with the dancefloor. Shorty is in the room almost every day, fine-tuning the acoustics and testing new configurations. Our goal for early 2026 is to ensure that every weekend, the room sounds even more pristine than the one before.

 

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