We booked our July 2023 wedding here at 501 union and can whole heartedly say we would recommend the space to anyone looking for a beautiful space to make their own. We planned our wedding from out of state, and this proved to be be a non issue for the staff as they easily set up phone call and zoom sessions with us and our coordinator. We felt the pricing and expectations for what was available and offered to us clear and well explained. This is an amazing space that is essentially a beautiful blank canvas, meaning you can do as much or as little as you wish here. Our day of coordinator helped us secure many vendors to fulfill all the duties of the space, almost all who had worked events here before and had nothing but good things to say. When the day of arrived, we were given free reign of the space and politely checked in with every few hours to see if we needed anything on their end. When the wedding kicked into full gear we had a small unexpected hiccup (outside their control), which they promptly worked to fix and followed up with us after the wedding. I really felt they did an amazing job with customer service and providing a clean, open space to make our dreams a reality. We brought in two food trucks, and two drop off catering to which the space lended well. The house bar staff was great and the whole day truly was a dream. TLDR; This is an amazing space, that really lets you fulfill all of your DIY dreams. It's beautiful enough on its own, but lends well to any additions you want to bring in. The house staff was great and we would definitely recommend to friends and family! read more

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As a wedding coordinator, 501 Union was a fantastic venue to work with and at! The space is setup in a way that makes the flow easy and was spacious, yet intimate. The decor is modern, simple, and feels romantic. I was fortunate to work with Abby (and Emory for part of the day of) and she was more than accommodating to both me and my couple. Abby was quick to reply to all of my questions and other requests. On top of that, she's super friendly and has a great attitude. We used a couple of their preferred vendors, as well as outside vendors and Abby and her team worked with all flawlessly. We used a couple of their preferred vendors, as well as outside vendors and Abby and her team worked with all flawlessly. Overall, highly recommend 501 Union, Abby, Emory, and the rest of the staff at 501! Thanks again for everything! read more

501 Union - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My sister had the most beautiful wedding here, however, our coordinator was atrocious. She made many derogatory comments to members of the bridal party throughout the night. For services we paid for!!! She added such a negative tone to such a beautiful day. I really suggest any bride considers hiring an outside coordinator and to not use the horrible lady we had. read more

Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar--held yesterday and today at this building and another across the street. Local, independent artists/merchants selling everything from jewelry, homemade jams, knits, body lotions and more. Food and beverage for purchase. Not unlike other holiday pop up vendors I've been to in Manhattan. This one was fun with something for everyone--even if you choose to browse. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas read more

Event space, where we popped in for a wedding. Outside, an unassuming spot with street parking, but not a convenient parking lot too close (I did see a Central Parking sign somewhat near); the subway also runs about a long block over near President's Street (Way). The space holds up to around 100 people comfortably; any more than that and you overwhelm. A small coat check, and a couple of bathrooms (tight and often a line that night). A big open space that can fit tables/dance floor/DC, etc. The lounge space is cramped, so if you have a lot of people, you may want to rethink that. Food was so-so... Appetizers passed around were fancy, but the speed of service and people crowded in the lounge meant that most people never tasted one. The skirt steak was tough and the food overall was trendy (lots of modern ingredients and kale this and that), but too salty. Water service was slow, but wine service was fast. Interestingly enough, our choices were served family style - the table shared all the dishes. Plenty of it, but the pearl onions and chicken (rotisserie-like) were the best part of the meal.. low point was the mushrooms were horribly cooked (not really cleaned either, I picked some sand/dirt out). The folks in charge and serving were good at responding to requests (food for someone who had nut allergies, kid's food, more drinks, etc.). So call it a wash between service and food. I've been to better venues, and worse, so a mixed bag on the experience here that night; it works well for a small get-together, but if you like some space or perhaps better food, you may be better served going elsewhere. read more

My husband and I photograph weddings and 501 Unions is easily one of our favorite venues. The space is refreshing, unique and beautiful. There are so many opportunities for great photos. Couples can also completely customize the space with decor and vendors which makes every wedding here extremely unique and special. read more

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We attended a wedding here about a month ago and it was one of the best weddings we went to. It was an intimate 150 people wedding. The place was simple but it had a certain charm to it. Cocktail hour was served at the bar and Dinner was served family style and the food was cooked perfectly! read more

501 Union is a new venue across the street from The Green Building. As someone described it to me, it's the Green Building's "chic older sister." The place makes me wish my boyfriend was about to put a ring on it, because it is a gorgeous space! Ideal for a wedding or large party, the entrance room feels so open and light thanks to a beautiful glass ceiling. The bar is spacious - you could imagine many people in there enjoying drinks without trampling each other to get their beverages. The decor is classy - minimal and sophisticated. I was here recently for the BK Exposed Holiday Bazaar, and absolutely loved the place. If you're looking to book a private event in the area, you've got to check it out! read more

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We just had our wedding at 501 Union the sunday before Thanksgiving and it was more fun than we could have ever imagined it to be. The building itself is so classy and beautiful. No other venue looks like this place. The lighting, the walls, the wooden tables, the bar and even the wallpaper is so stylish and hip. The building is located in Gowanus Brooklyn - a quaint community by the Gowanus Canal that is great for capturing the look of an urban wedding. The only downside of getting married in the city is no private parking. We had to hire Elite Parking Services to provide valet parking for this venue. However, the people at 501 Union are amazing. They know how to do buisness in a professional and friendly manner. They often have open houses and exibits at their venues that showcase different vendors that are worth speaking to. In summary, 501 Union is a great place and we are so happy that we had our wedding at this place! read more

From start to finish, 501 Union absolutely made our wedding what it was. With two large families not used to big cities coming in from out of town, they were blown away by the beauty, comfort and ease within the space. Everyone on both sides is still raving about how much they loved the venue! I knew I didn't want a raw venue space because I didn't want to have to bring in a whole army of vendors. 501 Union offered the flexibility of a raw space, without needing to add lighting, a sound system, draping, or even tables and chairs! (We did upgrade to the farm tables and that was worth it for us, however.) Being able to come in the morning of and relax and get ready with my bridal party as we got our hair and make up done and set out decorations was one of my favorite memories. Also--air conditioning, which was a requirement for us in the summer--but so much natural light and greenery in the space you don't feel caged in like a hotel ballroom. The number 1 biggest asset of 501 Union for us was the flow of the space. The layout with the cocktail lounge meant no awkward flow or crowding from ceremony to reception as chairs got moved over, and at the end of the night when the older folks wanted to have quieter conversation they could escape to the lounge and let the dance party rage. It's a totally unique space that start to finish made the day incredibly easy and special. And the wallpaper made the perfect photo booth background! The staff is also great, and so kind and pleasant to deal with. Bridget was a dream. Also really appreciated the in-house bar staff and found the drink packages to be really fairly priced. So grateful to 501 Union for doing the most in making our wedding day more fun and less stress than I ever imagined! read more

My husband Dan and I had our wedding here on Sunday of Labor Day, 2016. The entire process leading up to and the event itself was a huge success, and I would highly recommend 501 Union, Purslane Catering and Ashley Chamblin for a total dream team celebration. It's very evident that 501 is a boss at what they do -- they're totally professional, on top of every detail, and have done this so many times it has become seamless. We knew we wanted to get married in Brooklyn, and after doing some research of the usual places (Liberty Warehouse, Brooklyn Bridge Park, The Bell House, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, etc.) 501 was by far and away the most perfectly styled and affordable. We loved that we were able to pick and choose our own vendors, there was no minimum guest requirement, and that we lived a mile from the venue was the icing on the cake. Speak of, we didn't actually have a wedding cake, but instead hired the CoolHaus ice cream truck to drive directly into the garden space of the venue to serve dessert to our guests. We can already tell that this alone will be talked about by our friends and family for years to come. The space is stunning, and we loved that there are different areas you can use throughout the night, so guests could really have individual experiences and enjoy at their own pace. And because everything is aesthetically beautiful, hip and Brooklynified we didn't have to bring in decorations at all -- just some candles and flowers to make it ours for the night. After we squared things away with 501 we decided that we really wanted to pursue a whole Park Slope weekend for our guests, and built all the events and a custom map around the area so our friends and family could have a totally immersive experience of what our life is like in BK. I'm never planning a wedding again -- but would absolutely pick 501 again in a heart beat! read more

I was here as a Wedding Photographer working. I felt so strongly about the way we were treated that I had to write a review. A lot of people don't realize how poorly wedding vendors can ( not always ) be treated at weddings. I've been photographing in NYC and the surrounding area for over 6 years. TO start... 501 union is a photographers dreams. If you are a bride... this place will never have bad lighting. You can't have bad pictures if you get married here. The space is not only lit with the most beautiful natural light, but its decorated and kept absolutely stunning and spotless. The food was beyond delicious. I was lucky enough to try a few things the chicken, pasta, potatoes, brussel sprouts and the bread. Everything was great. The Staff. The staff was kind, helpful, pleasant. ( Not common for NYC ) From the moment my team and I approached the building the staff was super helpful. Kept up updated on the movement of the evening, made sure we were comfortable and had food. As I stated earlier we aren't treated very well at weddings. We are there to work not to make friends. I get it. But it was amazing to be treated with the same respect as guests. I attend around 30 weddings a year. This is one of the 3 places in NYC I would get married! read more

Had a great experience having my wedding at 501. The staff was great to deal with and day-off ran smoother than I thought possible. Venue is not cheap, but as I quickly learned nothing is cheap when it comes to pledging your love in front of 130 of your closest friends and people you've never met but you're hoping will give you lots of money and then some of them don't and then you're like crap, I invited a stranger to my wedding for nothing. read more

I attended an open house at this event space because we are looking for a venue for our wedding. Our treatment was utterly disgusting. I'm so hurt and disgusted I'm seriously contemplating contacting the manager but I get the impression it's an across the board issue. I stepped in behind a group of young women and noticed the woman in front entering her info on an iPad. I follow her lead and wait behind her. There is a young man greeting people who said NOTHING!!!!! Now remember I'm waiting behind someone so there is ample time to say something. It takes the woman a while so other people start to enter, he greets each of them& offers them a paper about the space. Now it's my turn to enter my info, still nothing. The screen is still on the previous woman's entry so I'm fiddling with it and he still says nothing. I end up having to ask him how to get to the next screen. Then I start to enter my info and I feel his eyes rushing me...I shoot him a look and finish my entry. I'll stop there but know that was not the extent of them blatantly ignoring us. And their pea appetizer tasted like puréed fried sweat socks. read more

501 Union is great, but this review is for Ashley Chamblin. She was the day-of-coordinator for my best friend's wedding in September that I was maid of honor for, so I was coordinating with her for a lot of the day. I wasn't sure what a day-of-coordinator did, but Ashley basically did everything. She ran the show seamlessly and seemingly effortlessly and was extremely proactive and calming throughout the whole day.The wedding was beautiful, but of course, all weddings have their moments. Even when there were hiccups, she was happy, upbeat and incredibly helpful. We used each room in the space for a different function at different points throughout the day, and Ashley made those transitions very smoothly. The next day, she let us pick up the remnants of the wedding from 501 Union and she was there working on another wedding, and still extremely pleasant and helpful! Thanks for everything, Ashley! read more

How does 501 Union not have any reviews yet??? Well here goes! Brought to you by the same folks who own the Green Building across the street, 501 aims to be part wedding venue, part event space, and from what I hear a future social club. The wedding/ event side of things have been in full gear, booking up weekends in 2013/ 2014. There are monthly open houses to view the space. The building is truly gorgeous, in a different way from the shabby chicness of the Green Building. Beautiful and unique wallpaper and chandeliers throughout, marble bar, super dark wood, and a huge skylight make the space bright, inviting and classy. It looks like a fancy cocktail bar inside and has an outdoor space too. I can't wait until the Social side opens, hopefully membership prices will be appropriately priced to attract the burgeoning Gowanus neighborhood. read more

What a great addition to the Gowanus! The venue is quite spacious and the staff are terrific. I attended an event here recently and was in awe of, first off, how conveniently located for us Brooklynites this place is. I was also impressed with the design of the three large rooms - bar, foyer and main room. I definitely see more awesome events being held here! read more

501 Union - 1st Annual Bk Bazaar - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

As an event planner for 25 years was disappointed by this venue. When an event co comes in and had to clean the venue it is a sign that they don't care.had to patch the ceiling so ceremony wasn't flooded. Garbage outside enterance. Bar floor filthy Had to tell staff to clean up. Grow up Can not recommend read more

Great Place! Great Service! Great Food!! Made to feel right at home from the moment I walked through the door. Would suggest 501 Union for any occasion read more

501 Union is a pretty darn nice event space in Gowanus. This review will be just based the venue space, not the caterers, DJ, Bartender, decor, etc. The reason we came was for my sister's wedding. There's 3 sections to this venue. Upon entering, its the bar, lounge area, coat check and 1 restroom. to you right, there's another room which my sister used for the ceremony. It was the perfect space for a wedding. The lighting was great and also I liked how there were windows from the bar room looking into the ceremony. You can see all rooms through window or windowed doors. The space felt very open especially when you entered the third room which they used for dinner and entertainment. The bar space was really nice. There are two bars, one in the first room you enter, the other in the big hall. It was open bar and they had enough space for everything. To the back left, there's a coat check window. My god brother was the coat check man for the evening and I think he was right next to kitchen door so whenever they came out wit hors d'oeuvres, he had first dibs on everything. There's one restroom in the bar room in the back right. Throughout this event space, there's really neat black and white photographs of vintage motorcycles. My cousins, godfather, and I really dig it. Into the biggest room where the entertainment and dinner was held, the space was just huge. Nobody felt cramped whatsoever. The bar was big enough for everyone. Dance floor worked out just fine. One of the cool things was the back area. There's one dressing room, and along that hallway, there's like 6 private restroom stalls. All of them were super clean throughout the night too. At first, I thought that one restroom in the bar room was the only one, when I found this hall of restrooms, it made everyone's life easier. Verdict - Looking for an event space? 501 is definitely a grand slam. Find yourself the right planner, florist, caterer, DJ or band and you'll have one heck of an evening, My sister and brother in-law, I gotta hand it to them. I usually hate weddings because they're all about the same, but they did theirs right and made use of 501 Union's space very well. Every section of 501 was utilized. After the ceremony, they put away all of the chairs and hired food vendors to end the night in that room along with desserts and coffee. It was just really well thought out. I highly recommend 501 Union. Parking wasn't even that hard. There's a school up the block and during evening hours, all of the no standing spots during school hours don't matter at night. It's a great location if you yourself have the right team to set up the event. read more

I was here for the Life@Work conference and it was amazing! There's so much you can do to make it your own- with decals and decor and lighting! There's bars and lounge space and the garden room entrance is perfect! It could be for a conference, birthday, or even wedding! read more

I attended a wedding at 501 this past weekend. It was gorgeous, quaint and trendy. It was catered by Dinosaur BBQ which is right down the street I think and served some amazing food! The serving staff at 501 need some pointers because the table I sat at did not seem to receive the same amount of food as many of the other tables (family style dining), so many of us were still very hungry after dinner was served. Luckily, I loaded up on apps! I also felt like we should have used the open ceiling area for the dance floor, but this could have been decided by the bride and groom or maybe have been suggested due to weather concerns. Overall, very nice. The wedding I was at was a good size of about 200. I may keep it to 150 max. Thanks for the nice evening 501. read more

A wedding at this venue last night was spot on: space, sevice, coordination, staff, and the fantastic food (including accomodating some serious food allergies) and excellent booze. My one star short is due to the deafening noise level towards the end, which might have been at the request of the hosts. But overall, highly recommended. read more

There is no question that the space is beautiful. And, with the proper selection of vendors one can have a wonderful wedding here. BUT, the event staff make planning and details an absolute nightmare. From the moment we first visited, the attitude of the staff was that they were doing us a favor by allowing us use of their space. Phone calls were not returned in a timely manner, if at all. No accommodations were made for the schedules of busy professionals who were only available on evenings and weekends. On the day of the wedding, staff was late in getting to the venue to open the doors. This threw the entire days schedule off. No apologies. Although the wedding was in the summer, we found out that air conditioning only goes on about an hour before the start of the wedding. The air conditioning is barely sufficient for the space and takes a very, very long time to get to any semblance of cool. Thus pre-wedding photos in the bar were difficult with people trying not to overheat. Even by cocktail hour the space was not cool enough as evidenced by the faces of our guests in photos. The philosophy here might be that the worse you treat your clients, the more valuable they think your space is. This must account for the popularity of this venue. Yes , the space is beautiful. But, if you want the total wedding experience to be wonderful, steer clear of 501. read more

As a wedding photographer, I get to work at a a lot of wedding venues in the city and surrounding areas, and I have to say that 501 Union is a truly a dream!! First of all, the space itself is absolutely stunning and has incredible light. It's like a candy store for photography, and even if your wedding day is plagued with terrible weather and you end up taking all of your photos indoors... your photos will still be stunning! That's a pretty awesome guarantee. As a wedding vendor, I get to see what goes on behind the scenes, and I have to say that the staff at 501 Union was incredibly helpful and easy throughout the entire day. When I asked for a minor lighting adjustment that I thought would improve the photography, it was *no problem* at all! The staff made me feel valued, and they really provided a pleasant experience for not only the guests but for everyone that was working within the space. (I can tell you, that isn't always the case!) I would absolutely recommend getting married in this stunning venue!!! read more

This venue is absolutely charming and classy. Highly recommend this place for your next event. Staff is super kind, professional and are always there to help you. read more

My husband and I were just married at 501 Union in October. The venue is absolutely stunning and the staff (especially Claire Mahler, who was with us from the day we booked 501) is unfailingly professional and helpful. We were so unbelievably thrilled with the entire experience- my bridesmaids and I got ready at the venue and basically made it our home-base until late that night. 501 is pricey, but overall was well worth it. read more

We just had our wedding here over Thanksgiving weekend, and it was stunning. The venue itself is beautiful, but the staff is also very helpful, organized and friendly. Tracy was our contact, and she was great throughout the process. On the day of, the staff was helpful and friendly. The maitre d in particular made sure that my husband and my needs were met throughout the evening. The whole entire thing was absolutely fantastic. read more