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Last night's news that Veselka had been denied a full liquor license and might be pulling out from their new location in the Avalon was depressing to us. But owner Tom Birchard doesn't seem to be too worried. “We’re going to appeal the decision to the full committee in two weeks,” he says. “We’ve been operating for 50 years and have never had a problem — not a noise violation, nothing. If anyone should get a license in this neighborhood, it should be us.”

As for the original Veselka operating without a lease — another revelation from last night’s community-board meeting — Birchard isn’t stressing that, either. “We have a very good relationship with our landlord, who is part of the Ukrainian community and very close to us,“ he explains. “Our last lease ended in December, and the only thing holding up a new one is that we hope to take over the adjacent storefront on 9th Street, to expand the restaurant a little bit. I want Veselka to go on for a future generation.” As do we, Tom. Our vision for the 21st century always involved a pierogi in every pot.

Earlier: Momofuku Ko Hoping to Open in Two Weeks; No Malice Palace Prevails