Eastern European food aficionados and late-night dining enthusiasts can now rejoice. The iconic Ukrainian restaurant ‘Veselka’ in the East Village will gradually return to serving its customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Speaking to EV Grieve, owner Jason Birchard said, “it’ll be just a Friday and Saturday to start. And then work into like we did initially back in 1990 just to get our feet wet again. So, yes! It is coming”. “I think we’re aiming for June 1, but maybe sooner”, Birchard added.
Veselka had been serving its clientele around the clock on the SE corner of Manhattan’s Second Avenue and Ninth Street for over thirty years when the epidemic struck, a popular gathering place for first- and second-generation Eastern European expats.
When the restaurant began offering in-person eating again, however, the hours were reduced. Nowadays, daily hours for Veselka are 8 a.m. to midnight, with a Sunday closing at 11 p.m.
The restaurant has also grown in importance politically over the last few years, particularly in light of the conflict in Ukraine. It has been raising funds and promoting awareness for the Ukrainian cause ever since Russia invaded the nation on February 24, 2022.
Furthermore, a new documentary on the restaurant’s cultural significance and history just entered movie theaters a few weeks ago. Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World examines second-generation owner Tom Birchard’s 54-year retirement, which coincides with his son Jason taking over the helm of the iconic restaurant business.
