Located in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, Public Records is a multi-concept cultural hub built around sound, plant-based hospitality, design, and community. Its Sound Room is the beating heart of the venue — a hybrid, immersive performance space, nightclub, and listening lounge all in one. Inside, the Sound Room is outfitted with a custom quadraphonic sound system, blending vintage hi-fi speakers with commercial subwoofers, engineered to deliver clarity, depth, and a visceral audio experience. The interior leans minimalist and acoustically responsive, with perforated panels and refined materials that balance form and function. Public Records is much more than just the Sound Room. By day it hosts Cafe Public and The Atrium, serving vegan cuisine and coffee in a bright, artful setting. The building itself was formerly the ASPCA headquarters (animal shelter offices) and a guitar-repair shop (Retrofret), repurposed into a cultural venue. On event nights, Sound Room programming spans DJs, electronic, experimental, live acts, listening sessions, and more. Upstairs, there’s also Upstairs, an “acoustic vessel” — a cocktail & lounge space conceived as part listening room, part social lounge. Meanwhile, The Nursery is an indoor/outdoor modular dance / garden space. Patrons often praise the sonic fidelity and design sensibility. On Reddit, one user described Sound Room as “a dark Berlin style club in a sound treated room” and noted upstairs DJ areas with custom sound systems. Another commented that “PR is a spot … I do understand the crowd can be off some … but exceptional DJ’s and … quality of sound.” When not in full club mode, the space feels like a listening lounge — where focus is on audio, atmosphere, and thoughtful programming rather than pure spectacle.
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