Here’s where Veselka is opening in Williamsburg

By Brooklyn Magazine Staff

Veselka has nailed down a location for its first Brooklyn location.

The beloved Ukrainian diner, which is venturing outside of Manhattan for the first time, has bought a 4,000-square-foot industrial building at 646 Lorimer Street, just a few blocks north of Union Pool.

The building, built in 1918, has been vacant for several years and has served various purposes, including a car wash and even an indoor skateboard park, according to Brownstoner. Previous plans for a 14-story hotel for the exact location have apparently fallen through.

An opening date hasn’t yet been revealed, but Brownstoner said that it will have a bakery in addition to its restaurant. A permit to sell liquor, beer and wine has also been filed. A rendering shows a takeout window and large signage similar to its original East Village spot.

Veselka first announced the expansion earlier this year, which has experienced a bump in business following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Another location, at Grand Central Terminal, also recently opened. 

“We needed a space that could be a hybrid kitchen and restaurant to deal with the pent-up demand of the last 12 months, which has shown that people love Veselka, and we are incredibly appreciative and want to meet the demand that is there,” Justin Birchard, Veselka’s director of development, told the New York Post.

Over the past year, Veselka has become a meeting spot for organizers collecting aid for war-torn Ukraine, and the restaurant itself has donated $300,000 of its borscht sales to the country. The restaurant has also sponsored work visas for Ukrainian refugees to the city and has won a James Beard Award for its efforts.