On this walk we’ll visit some of the East Village’s stalwart shops and restaurants that have been in operation for decades. Many establishments were opened by refugees and remain in the family, like the Ukrainian-rooted restaurant Veselka. I’ve learned through reporting for newspapers and my newsletter Mercantile Mayhem that the cost of owning and operating an independent business has been increasingly difficult to financially sustain. NYC’s real estate prices continue to soar along with general inflation. In addition to Veselka, we’ll visit East Village Meat Market, B&H Dairy, Block Drug Stores and McSorley’s Old Ale House, among others. I’ll talk about the neighborhood’s history and how various immigrant groups, social movements, trends and gentrification have impacted these independent businesses.
Accessibility
This walk will be conducted in a several block radius but primarily on 2nd Ave near 9th Street. It can get crowded and crazy with pedestrians and bike riders, but we will do our best. The closest subway stop is Astor Place on the 6.
Location Information
RSVP is required and capacity is limited. Meeting location, ending location, and directions will be provided via email before walk date.
