Where Exposed Brick and a 50-Foot Skylight Aren't a Design Choice
An Authentic Luxury Industrial Wedding Venue in NYC
Search "industrial wedding venue NYC" and you'll find a lot of spaces that added exposed brick during a renovation. 501 Union is different: the building at 501 Union Street was constructed in 1916 and spent decades as a working space for classic car restoration before it was converted into an event venue in 2013. The brick, the hardwood, the scale of the rooms — it's original, not applied. A custom 50-foot skylight over the Reception Hall floods the room with natural light during the day and creates dramatic shadow and glow at night, wrapped in exposed brick and original hardwoods. In the Cocktail Lounge, a 15-foot Carrara marble bar, brass fixtures, and a tin ceiling add a counterpoint of old-world craftsmanship inside the industrial shell.
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Features
Capacity, Catering & What's Included
Capacity: Cocktail-style reception up to 400 guests. Seated dinner with a dance floor, up to 140–160 guests. Ceremony (Atrium, theatre-style) up to 150 guests. Ceremony (Main Space, theatre-style) up to 250 guests.
Catering & Bar: 501 Union welcomes outside catering, with a preferred vendor list available as a starting point — bring your own caterer, a restaurant, or a food truck with a valid Certificate of Insurance. All beverage service runs exclusively through 501 Union's in-house bar program, with tiered packages and custom cocktail menus available.
What's Included: Every wedding booking includes a dedicated venue manager, professional cleaning staff, and a doorman/security guard, with bartenders and coat check available to add. In-house furniture, a built-in sound system, and a projector are included as part of your rental.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 501 Union's industrial look original to the building, or a renovation?
Original. The building was constructed in 1916 and used for classic car restoration before its 2013 conversion into an event venue — the brick, skylight structure, and scale of the space are original architectural features.
How many guests can an industrial-style wedding at 501 Union hold?
Up to 400 for a cocktail-style reception, or 140–160 for a seated dinner with dancing.
Does the industrial aesthetic work for a black-tie or formal wedding, or only casual ones?
Both. The raw architecture pairs well with a stripped-down, casual design, and equally well with elevated florals, uplighting, and formal tablescapes.
Is there natural light in the reception space?
Yes — the 50-foot skylight over the Reception Hall brings in substantial natural light during the day.
Get Married in Gowanus, Brooklyn
It's hard to ignore the energy of Gowanus, a largely industrial neighborhood situated between Carroll Gardens and Park Slope. Stroll the streets and you’ll discover something new around every warehouse corner; bustling storefronts, unique activities like shuffleboard, archery and even kayaking on Gowanus’ namesake canal; studios filled with printmakers and wood workers diligently perfecting their craft.
Voted ‘2015 Neighborhood of the Year’ by Curbed NY, Gowanus has quickly become a haven for artists, creative makers, and burgeoning start-ups pioneering the new wave of Brooklyn respectfully alongside the neighborhood's longstanding industrial manufacturers.
Gowanus has many wonderful and unique options for lodging, dining, culture and nightlife. Our team is happy to point you in the right direction.
501 Union is just four subway stops to Lower Manhattan. Take the F/G to Carroll Street or R to Union Street. We encourage ride share, and the closest parking lot is at 365 Bond Street. We are also happy to make recommendations for valet for your guests.
