501 Union hosts weddings, company meetings, product launches, holiday parties and private celebrations for up to 400 guests at a cocktail reception, or 140 to 160 at a seated dinner with dancing. The venue occupies a 1916 building at 501 Union Street in Brooklyn, New York, converted into an event space in 2013.
Seminars and company events
The corporate offer covers leadership meetings, creative conferences, all-hands meetings, company offsites, product launches, brand activations and holiday parties. The Main Space seats up to 250 people theatre style and the Atrium up to 150, so a keynote and a reception can be planned in separate rooms. The venue has an in-house sound system and built-in projection, and an in-house A/V technician can be booked and may be required for some setups. Each booking includes a venue manager, cleaning staff and a doorman or security guard. The on-site team coordinates vendors and logistics, and the building is also hired for film and photo shoots.
Weddings and receptions
Ceremonies take place in the glass-enclosed Atrium, then guests move to the Cocktail Lounge and the Reception Hall for dinner and dancing. The VIP Suite gives the couple or the wedding party a private place to get ready or regroup, with its own restroom, vanity area and lounge seating. A day-of coordinator, planner or designated sober contact is required for every event. Leashed pets may attend the ceremony with prior approval.
Rooms and capacities
The Reception Hall covers 3,500 sq ft under a 50 ft custom skylight, with exposed brick, hardwood floors, a 15 ft Carrara marble bar and Jason Miller Modo chandeliers on dimmers. The Cocktail Lounge adds 1,400 sq ft with a second 15 ft Carrara marble bar, brass fixtures and a white tin ceiling with dimmable pendants. The Covered Atrium, also 1,400 sq ft, has glass walls that open to Union Street and seasonal plantings. In total the venue holds up to 400 for a cocktail reception, 140 to 160 for a seated dinner with a dance floor, 250 theatre style in the Main Space and 150 theatre style in the Atrium. The building is fully ADA compliant and has eight private, wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
Catering
Catering is open. Clients can hire a caterer, a restaurant, a food truck or a drop-off service, from the preferred vendor list or elsewhere, as long as it provides a certificate of insurance. All drinks come from the in-house bar program, with bar packages available, and outside bartenders are not allowed. In-house tables, chairs and basic A/V are included, and bartenders and coat check staff can be added.
History and setting
The building dates from 1916 and was once a hub for classic car restoration. It was reworked as an event venue in 2013, keeping its brick walls and adding the large skylight and handcrafted chandeliers. Vendor load-in starts at 9 am and load-out can run until 2 am, and events usually last four and a half to six hours from guest arrival to bar close.
Getting there
The venue is about four subway stops from Lower Manhattan. The nearest stations are Carroll Street on the F and G lines and Union Street on the R line. Ride share is encouraged, the closest parking garage is at 365 Bond Street, and the team can recommend valet services.
