Knockdown Center

All time favorite venue in New York! I personally am a huge fan of industrial architecture and old buildings - I have to say being able to dance, enjoy the music and the vibes in a place like this is insane. The energy you feel on that dance floor, the atmosphere inside and out (mysterious, ethereal, freeing) it’s insane. Each show is different and has a unique feel to it, but the vibes are always immaculate.

Flat scene so only front gets to see the visual performance. Lockers for 2 maybe 3 winter coats are $15, bit stiff. Drinks are 5oz and wide mouth so they sill easy. Stupid design. But the sound quality is great. Parking is tough around there. Lots of storage overhead doors in this industrial area.

Great place for such an event!! So I don’t really have anything to note that is negative. Maybe concerning parking. I guess it would be a problem depends what time you arrive and the performer. I arrived early to see Claude Von Stoke and found parking easy. Maybe if I arrived late not so. But, there’s plenty of street parking. Once inside, magic, large dance floor and two huge bathrooms ! I meant plenty of stalls, one for each gender . Although females were in the gents bathroom, I didn’t mind. Bars are a plenty. I had no problem purchasing because there are so many bars. Another reason I like this place is the fact that there are areas tucked away in and outside to take a break from the crowd. So this was my first time and I have a few more events to attend here in the upcoming months

Never wanted to go, because it just seemed too crowded. It is, but the crowd is nice. I made it all the way to the front twice. There are food trucks outside and one inside. About 10 picnic tables and the drinks are good. Danny Krivitz and Benny Soto..House Music all night long!!!

Knockdown is a great venue with multiple spaces to enjoy live music. It has open air feel to it because the ceilings are tall. I have seen three shows there and hada great time. My only gripe is that there isnt enough seating to take a break from standing on the concrete floor. I dont need a seat the entire time Im there, just a lil reprieve from standing on the concrete for hours. Now, this comes with aging for me n my partner so when I see the younger crowd occupying the limited resting areas I get a lil pissed lol. One other note. I wish music venues especially in Brooklyn would sell cold brew coffee in cans. Ya ya I know that music venues n bars etc only serve alcohol but damn, the future is now and some of us have to drive n function well enough to get home late at night and want a caffeine kick after dinner, before attending a concert. Is that too much to ask for in the year 2025??

I’m extremely disappointed and disturbed by what my friend and I experienced at the Knockdown Center. During an event, my friend dislocated her shoulder and was clearly in visible pain. Instead of helping her, a security guard—much larger than her—grabbed and swung her injured arm, claiming she was faking it. She screamed in pain, and his actions made the injury worse. When I began recording, that same guard smacked the phone out of my hand. I have video proof of both incidents — him swinging her arm and knocking the phone — which I will be attaching to this review. It gets worse: When we asked the guard for his name to report the incident, he gave us the middle finger. And when we brought the issue to the attention of staff, they denied he ever touched her — despite everything being clearly caught on video. This kind of behavior is abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable. The Knockdown Center must be held accountable for the actions of its security team. No one should feel unsafe, harmed, or disrespected at a public venue.

We were here for a show at The Ruins outdoor music area and had an awesome time. It's a really unique spot for a show! The are many places to hang out and watch the show from. Sound system was great - not crazy loud, and well balanced. Lots of bar access, and the bathrooms never had much of a line even at peak time. Drink prices were decent for NYC. There was a food truck parked inside the venue when we were there - not sure that's always the case though? We found close parking in a neighborhood across the street.

Had a magnificent night at knockdown center fir the descendants' 3 year anniversary. The lightning and sound system was great love vibes shout out to all the djs smashed it 🙌🏾

Every time I catch a show here it's a great time. We can always find a spot to dance, great lighting effects, no lines at the restroom, relatively reasonably priced drinks. Excited for the next one!

We went to this venue to see one of our favorite DJ's. We were pleasantly surprised. Location is great, near public transport and the expressway. I love that there's many sitting areas to just relax and chill. Plenty of bathrooms. Overall a nice time, sound is great and lighting was awesome.

Really cool venue for all events; it really gives you that Brooklyn rave feel. My only desire is that more places would hold their performances/shows here!

Went here recently for the Alkaline Trio concert. Overall, the venue is huge. There's even some room for seating towards the back. Multiple large bar areas. Drinks were on the average to expensive side. Bathrooms were good and there was even bathroom staff making sure the bathrooms were clean and hanging out Paper towels and things. As far as the concert, the overall sound quality was good there was definitely enough room to move around and to be spaced out more towards the back. only negative is this venue is not really close to any subway stations, it's kind of more in a very industrial space granted there is Some bars and stores close by. The closest subway station said it was gonna be a 10 minute walk which is fine. Most people were getting Ubers and Lyft which made the prices very high so just be mindful of that.

I attended a music festival that lasted two days, using three stages in the building. Sound was very good and so was lighting- a number of bars were open, and they brought in a couple of food trucks. There is quite a lot of picnic table seating in the back. The bathrooms are industrial in style but clean and gender neutral. Security was attentive to crowd-surfing and I saw them escorting someone who was overly drunk. It is not a convenient location, but Uber is happy to do pick ups and drop offs.

I came here two times so far for events. The venue is super close to public transportation and walking distance from other venues as well. The sound quality is great, plenty of bathrooms, and different rooms within the venue so you're not packed like sardines but actually able to move to the music. The drink prices are okay-$16 for well but the frozen margarita was od- $25?!. Outside of the frozen drink prices, everything else was amazing.

I liked this space a lot! Spacious enough for the crowd that was brought in for the night. It def was PACKED but there was space towards the edges and outside to cool off and get some air. Sound, visuals/lighting, all were FANTASTIC quality. That's part the show but also the venue's systems were great. Love a venue with a little outdoor space. Bars are around the perimiter of the main area and staff work at lightning speed. Drinks were what you'd expect: basic, reliable, a little sweet but still had plenty of booze. Bathrooms were also pretty accessible. The show I was at was sold out and the line started to grow late into the night/morning but we never felt like we had to wait long. Parking looked rough and/or expensive. I'd recommend taking a bus or rideshare. Can't wait to go back :)

Amazing venue!! Had a blast attending a show at Knockdown Center! This classic warehouse venue was quite spacious, clean and had plenty of restrooms. I was so grateful that they had a coat check because I visited on a cold night. The coat check cost $7 and you can not take the coat out without paying again. The lighting and sound systems were fantastic. Would highly recommend! Definitely visit on a summer night so you don't have to pay for the coat check.

I honestly am really surprised this venue had negative reviews. My experience over the weekend was incredible. I attended the knockdown center for a hard techno concert, and what a venue! The sound was phenomenal, good space to move about, and a wonderful location. Sara Landry played two sold out shows, one being seven hours straight and knockdown showed up for this. This venue supported everything and more! The drinks are crazy expensive but that's to be expected. Outside smoking areas too.

I went to the Jack Daniel's Art Beats and Lyrics Free Event and BABY!!!!!!!! We had TIME LAST NIGHT!!!! The art was definitely a vibe and definitely brought some Brooklyn ethnic background of today's color world. The drinks we tried were the Jack Honey with lemonade and the cranberry apple with Jack apple. The DJ was playing them tunes for real. The art was a pleasure to see. The service was super quick they had about like 4 bars and free food, but the lines were a little long. They had Philly cheese steak and tacos.

Really cool warehouse style venue with reasonably priced drinks and plenty of room to dance!

Old factory buildings are one of my favorite things about New York City. Yet as time passes, there are fewer and fewer to be found. The old brick, chimneys, and occasional fancy iron work from over a century ago are rapidly disappearing and being replaced by newer buildings and projects. The Knockdown Center has been beautifully preserved & is open to the public for events. I usually go here in the fall (versus Avant Gardner in the summer). The knockdown center feels more relaxed compared with similar venues. The bathrooms are large and clean. I liked that they had a bathroom attendant there. While I'm not a big fan of the location- hard to get to via public transportation- the interior is airy and spacious with beautiful old beams and a comfortable outdoor space. The venue name has an interesting history - taken from their website -- "first as the Gleason-Tiebout glass factory, then as Manhattan Door factory. It is named for the Knock-Down door frame that was invented here in 1956 by Samuel Sklar and remains an industry standard to this day. The frame could be shipped in pieces -- or "knocked down" -- and installed into existing walls, revolutionizing the speed and efficiency of building construction." New York has so many stories and little tidbits of history in every corner.

The security, bartenders and other staff are all so rude for absolutely no reason. Been to knockdown many times and I always have weird interactions with the people working there. For context I work in the music business and go to 50-75 shows a year. Rarely do I encounter such bad vibes from an entire staff. It's really not that hard to be kind. Kinda kills the vibe at such a great venue...

Very cool venue. Set up well for concurrent bands/acts. Do not rely on there being allergy-free food (e.g. gluten) during all-day shows. In fact, bring your own because there is a no re-entry policy. Workers at the door just play stupid and powerless. So, I say keep bringing the good music but fuck you for no common sense, $5 bottles of water, and $14 drinks (single).

What an awful experience and a ruined birthday !!! Do not go here!!! The bartender charged 15 items to my bill which were not mine- then called the manager and kept my credit card, bank card and license held ransom claiming my accounts were insufficiently funded. I had to call both my bank and my credit company while at the venue and both claimed there was sufficient funding to my accounts. I threatened to call the police. The manager went to my friends without my permission asking them to pay the tab and I had to zelle my friend $200 for 15 drinks!!!!! As a result of this incident, I have suffered having my accounts cancelled and replaced because my identity and banking information have been compromised. What an awful experience. I will not return to this venue- EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am adding more to this review: This happened on Saturday night, I have been in communication with my credit card company several times since. My credit card was cancelled by Chase due to fraudulent activity. I have been inconvenienced for the last 2 days, and am still waiting for a new credit card to arrive and dealing now with my bank. This credit card is my primary means for buying: groceries, gas, car insurance, phone, utilities, etc. I am attaching the fraud alert from Chase as evidence of this incident. Also, I was charged for 12 vodka drinks and 3 beers...I could not possibly have consumed this much alcohol on my own. I contested this amount telling the manager I ordered 5 drinks and the manager claimed to have removed the beer yet charged my friend $200 (the total amount including beer) If it were not for the benevolence of my friend, I'd have been stranded in Maspeth, Queens with no driver's license, no credit card and no bank card. I had to pay for items I did not order and deal with shady business operators. I want to emphasize how bad of an experience this has been that has now snowballed for several days, impacted my financial health and caused me unnecessary ongoing stress.

Overall the Knockdown Center is a great space with an industrial/warehouse vibe deep in the heart of Brooklyn. The space is well decked with hipster party accents throughout like neon lights and contemporary art. That's about where the positive ends. The venue is chaotic and disorganized, especially for larger events. The cloak room/coat check is a disaster with up to a 90 minute wait on one occasion. The bars are understaffed and most of the bartenders are unfriendly or lack any basic customer service skills. This place really just needs an overhaul of operations to provide a better patron experience.

Went here for Trap Karaoke. The vybz were on point. Very fun event. However! The need some kind of AC or ventilation system because it was hot all hell in there. Everyone was sweating bullets. I ended up leaving early because I needed air and it was wayyyy to congested.

This place has so much potential! Too many strobe/dance lights for Hardcore/Metal shows to have fun... felt like I was gonna have a seizure if stayed longer than a few minutes at a time. plus a barricade so no fun for hardcore/punk shows High ceilings make it hard to enjoy music. Their courtyard, 2 large unisex restrooms, location of bars and some bleacher like seating towards one side of the venue was a pleasant change to experience.

I was here for everyday people when i was physically assaulted by a security guard. I was waiting for a female friend who was still in line for food at the end of the night. I decided to stand to the side and wait for her to get her food so we can leave. When security came and said i had to go. I said i understand but i was waiting for a girl when he instantly began to push me out. When i explained what i was doing and that i could not leave a girl in the establishment he grew increasingly aggressive. When i tried to videotape him he took my phone and physically assaulted me. I have whiteness and footage from others that i will be consulting with a lawyer over the incident. This is a horrible place and i have injuries that im at urgent care now from being assaulted and thrown to the floor unprovoked. My lawyers will be reaching out to the venue but i would not recommend coming here

The Knockdown Center is a must to avoid. First of all, it's a real pain to get to: first the L train and then a bus. And on the way back home, heaven help you if you live in Manhattan and they stop the L train at Lorimer -- then you're in for a two-hour trip home late at night. The unfriendly, disrespectful people who frisk you at the door are monosyllabic at best and communicate mainly with grunts. A really unpleasant way to start your big night out. And the stage is too low -- sightlines are bad. I will never go back to the Knockdown Center no matter who is playing. The place is awful. Bad vibes.

Finally made my way to check this venue out on a random night out.. we got screwed out of the online tickets which were $30 couldn't purchased online don't recall why? at the door they were $50 ahh to be honest not worth the price for the DJ that was there that night! But I Love loveee the space , wow this place is massive!! great set up, plenty of room to spread out no need for people to be on top of each other unless u are of course on the dance floor. Coat check line moves quickly & best thing u can pay w a credit card, nice & easy. There's bench seating, a few bars all around the perimeter. very good sound system & cool lights. Not too sure am all up for the gender neutral bathrooms? Girls are messy enough, add men to the mix & it all tends to get a bit much but they do seem to keep the bathrooms clean which so far I've noticed! Typically I tend to stick to Beer, water & maybe a shot here & there prices r normal for the club scene. Next time around came for LGNDS & it was completely worth the ticket price, again this is a great venue specially for dancing it's a great change to the club scene & hopefully it survives!

Very spacious venue with an industrial/warehouse vibe in the heart of Brooklyn. Plenty of space to move around. Came for SSS Black on Thanksgiving Weekend. Excellent sound while remaining intimate. Also nearby street parking. Any event taking place at Knockdown Center is worth attending.

NATHAN is the best bartender here so on top of his stuff. Friendly and welcoming. great staff good atmosphere.

I came here for a friend's birthday. Basically it is a. Old warehouse that they turn into an event hall. It is on the border of Brooklyn and Queens and was not hard for us to get to. This is definitely not an upscale place. It is a true open warehouse and has that feel. It was pretty cool and a great place to see world famous DJs spin. Drinks were not terribly priced and we had a great time! I also love that they have plenty of bathrooms.

Big shoutouts to Jack Daniel's for throwing this amazing event! It was a great start to this new refreshing season. The vibes were all there!

What is with security here? I was at an event outside and looking for the bathroom, everyone was chillin on the stairs so I went upstairs and opened the door, walked around a bit and realized I don't think the bathroom is here. I bent down to tie my shoe before heading back downstairs, as I did this an aggressive security guard started screaming at me from the top of his lungs that I can't be up here. My response was I'm looking for the bathroom and he continued to scream at me saying "I know damn well the bathroom isn't up here", I was trying to explain its my first time at this venue and he continued to scream at me telling me to get out, and never told me where the bathroom was. I finished tying my shoe and asked another guest where the bathroom was, which is downstairs behind some bar and not easy to get to.

Very cool venue. For one, you absolutely cannot hear anything on outside of the venue which is such a plus. It feels very secluded but exclusive and slightly intimate for concerts, events, etc.

My family attended the first night of the LCD Soundsystem show. LCD Soundsystem was incredible. However, when I go to a show I expect to feel safe. This venue and the security is not a safe place. Some individuals attending the show were smoking cigarettes openly as well as smoking pot. They should be going outside to do any type of smoking. Obviously security could care less what people bring in because illegal drug use was happening in front of everyone. It's like no one cared that people are snorting coke during the show. One individual was so high on something that they pushed a woman to the ground bouncing all over the place. The tension among the sober people and the high people was so high that we left for fear of a fight breaking out. We could not visible see any security watching over the safety of the attendees. The atmosphere was so disappointing because LCD Soundsystem is a GREAT group.

The staff here is rude. I walked out and didn't notice the no-entry sign and even after I showed my ticket and apologized for not noticing, they insisted on me paying full price to re-enter. I was there for a non-profit fundraiser and they didn't care.

Saw Yung Lean here on the first night. This is a cool little venue but it's in the middle of nowhere. You have to wait in line to get in. And then when you're inside they scan your ticket from your phone. After that you get Thoroughly searched (they go through everything in your bag !) The coat check is after that and it's $7 per item. They take cards. Before you go in the main room you have to show ID even if you aren't drinking. I almost didn't get in because I didn't have ID with me , so definitely bring it ! I just couldn't buy a drink inside. Bathrooms are co-ed with guys and girls walking around in same room. There's an attendant who sells candy and stuff. I tip him $1 for giving me paper towel. L train to Dekalb or Jefferson is closest subway stop and then you gotta walk up Wyckoff and up Flushing for like 10 blocks down lonely streets to get there. Many hipster are here . Yung Lean was awesome though. Would definitely come back to this edgy spot .

I will never see another show at this venue. Disgusting unisex bathrooms. Women forced to stand around waiting for stalls while men stand and piss in urinals next to them. Utterly gross. Felt abusive.

Pretty cool place! It had a Urban Jungle Ruins feel to it. Came here because the Full Moon Music Festival was here this year. At first I was unsure about this place before coming because the location for this yearly festival was on Roosevelt Island the past two years and I loved the outdoor space and NYC views from there I was even more excited when I found parking not far away. This location had an inside and outside for the festival . Inside had the main music stage with plenty of places and staff to get you a drink. Frozen margaritas were heaven sent on this hot day. Unisex bathrooms were interesting- especially the one on the right side because the men had a row of urine stalls for them. The other side are all private bathroom stalls. There was also an art exhibit open until 7ish which was cool. There was also another room with a DJ - room was called jungle ruins Outside has food options and in the back was another dancing /music space with several bars . Felt like I was at one of those old NYC clubs that had several levels and and rooms to roam around The only thing that I didn't like was that it was way too hot inside ... especially if you wanted to dance .

Solid 3.5. The venue is large, which is great! Plenty of space to breathe and move, although it can get very sweaty in crowds. I think the biggest let down, and most critical, is that their audio quality is awful! I recommend they have better speakers or make other amendments because the sound was bad. It didn't have a rich, thick sound you'd expect from a concert venue.

I came here for Trap Kareoke. It wouldve been lit, but it was waaaaayyyyy too hot to even fully stay and enjoy. There wasn't any kind of Air conditioning or anything. My friends and I were sweating so much we thought we would pass out. We also had to step outside so many times to get a breeze we missed half of the festivities. There was no choice but to spend $5 per water bottle. And we each had to have like 3 to continue the night. It was not a great time. Also food wasn't permitted, you also could not leave and come back, and they didn't offer any sustenance. So boiling hot, only serving alcohol and 5 dollar waters with no food. Im honestly surprised they didn't have many emergencies. I went to the one in Nashville and that was fire. Food, drinks, air and a good ass time. I was hoping for the same when I came home, but I was definitely disappointed that I didn't get to really enjoy.

I won a free pair of tickets to a concert at the Knockdown Center and was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable the venue made our experience! Organized staff and security, plenty of standing room, high ceilings, reasonable prices at the bar, and no lines for the ladies' restroom despite a full house! Seems to be a popular hangout amongst Gen Z looking to see up and coming artists. Wish more established bands and musicians would book this venue! Definitely a hidden gem in this part of Queens that needs more recognition.

Great venue for a concert, I saw the Citizen 10 Years of Youth show on June 14th. They have some seating against a wall in the general admission area which is rare for a venue in my experience- unless you have an upgraded ticket. Multiple bars in the venue, good service. I looked online before the show and was planning on eating there when I saw food was available- but there was no food so I stayed hungry. Gender neutral bathrooms, helpful bathroom attendant giving everyone paper towels after washing their hands to keep the line moving fast and has gum, mints, etc to buy- bring cash to tip them!! Nice area for merch set up. 10/10 would see a show here again- just double check if food will be served or not before you enter!

I've been biting my tongue for too long about my experiences at Knockdown Center over the last several years. There is so much potential for this great warehouse space but their sound system is absolutely terrible. I've been to clubs and events all over the world and Knockdown just doesn't have the people with the knowledge or experience to deliver proper sound for a house or techno show. It's a shame because they are booking some good artists and making their music sound like a ball of mud.

Date: 10/13/19 Time: 8:00pm Temperature: chilly Band: Explosions in the Sky On Sunday evening, my two friends jumped into a 15-minute Via ride (cheapest in NYC) to the awesome-bricked building in deep Brooklyn. PROS: - lighting: The lighting at the entire venue was a deep blue (please see photo attached). It was sick to be flooded in such a space with this color. - large ceiling space: The venue has an outdoor portion that is easily accessible to the indoor portion. The Knockdown Center used to be some sort of factory made primarily of bricks, which you can see exteriorly. The interior has been gutted and at the highest point feels like you are kind of at St. Basilica's interior ceilings. It almost makes you feel as if you are in downtown Los Angeles, California. It does not feel like you are in New York City. CON: - stage is a bit low: Being that the national average height in the United States is 5 ft. 7 in., which I am just over (5 ft. 9 in.) it was somewhat difficult to see over the crowd to really see the band. I could see the band. However, could catch them from their hip up and in occasionally adjusting my head's position to view them a band member in between the silhouette of two people in front of me. As a result of the difficulty of viewing, I chose to stand behind the sound tent which proved excellent (please see video attached). The sound tent is approximately 20 feet back from the front part of the stage. Overall: The show was sick. There was certainly enough space during the peak of the show. I had an incredible time watching my favorite band perform. They were so cool.

What a gem. Fun tiki disco party and good strong mixed drinks. Free RSVP events a +. Would go back!

Nice, big & roomie venue & awesome atmosphere for a night out; I like the setup of the venue and the courtyard outside Ehh, the crowd was not all that but overall it was nice. Although it's really not my favorite spot.

Expect an hour wait for the coat check line. It basically makes having fun impossible after receiving such horribly long issues

The space is vast and a good size for events but challenges remain with their coat check - it shouldn't take an hour plus to drop and pick up things at the check - I feel as though they know that they offer a unique opportunity for certain regular events and there is little incentive to make improvements

Kick ass venue. Sound was amazing. Good space. More DJs should spin here. Non-binary bathrooms.

Just about as bad as a venue of this size can be. Much of the place has almost zero view of the stage! Sound is rubbish because it's an old warehouse and they did very little to improve it. I'm sure the staff are nice people but they probably aren't allowed to show that side when they are here. Only Warsaw and Terminal 5 are worse ( in NYC)

I've worked in nightlife for over a decade; I've seen the good, the bad and everything in between. This venue is massive and can be curated to any size event! But what makes this venue stand out the most is it's incredible security team, management and staff. Nicole, Head of Security, and her team really care about the patrons' safety and experience at the venue! Security is friendly; there's no yelling, aggressive behavior or man-handling like you might experience at other venues. If you're looking for an amazing night out, look no further. This venue has it all.

I attempted to go to a show this past weekend at this venue. I had to leave after only an hr there bc they were allowing people to smoke cigarettes indoors. The air quality indoors was absolutely horrendous. This is not only illegal but dangerous for those like me who have asthma. Damage was done to my lungs and they still hurt days later.

I love this space. I have only been to the Knockdown Center twice for the Bushwig event. Both times were so fun and the KC has such a sprawling space with a variety of environments that it could host a small unique dance space, a flee market of local craftsmen and artists, a stage outside for bands, and a main stage with a runway for various acts. Also, there were bars everywhere so you didn't have to wait very long at all for a beverage. My aesthetic leans towards industrial so this repurposed factory space hits all my favorite things. Exposed brickwork, open and exposed ceilings, multiple levels, and a lot of windows.

The security at the door throw away my epilepsy medication because the pills didn't look uniform. It was because my pharmacist gave me a slightly different sized tablet and I had a few from a previous prescription. They wouldn't let me check my bag with them or any sort of compromise. Without this medication I am high risk of a seizure. Very disappointing that a compromise was not possible, although it seems that if I checked my backpack and the medicine didn't make into the venue it wouldn't have been a big deal.

Super cool cavernous venue to see shows. Awesome space, but there some things they really need to upgrade: 1) Getting a drink takes half the night. Their payment system is antiquated- a bill gets printed, you have to sign a receipt. The corner bodega has a more modern payment system of just tapping your card on an iPad! I felt for both the staff and patrons in terms of how much work it all was. It affects the coat check system too. Staff were generally quite nice but the system made everything incredibly slow. 2) the sound in the main space. The speakers are halfway back into the space. If you're not behind them, the sound is awful. Seems crazy to have half the crowd not get a good sound experience. I hope they can improve in these areas!