About Us

A vintage-style illustration of a cow's side view with labeled sections for meat cuts, surrounded by decorative sunflowers and floral patterns.

Our Craft

From the start, we have aspired to bring Old World comfort food to modern New York City. We do this by offering premium cuts of meat, fresh cold cuts, and the best Eastern European deli products. Our specialty is our kielbasa sausage, prepared fresh daily and then smoked in-house in our kitchen.

Two people, a woman and a man, smile at the camera inside a grocery store. The woman wears a blue Ukraine shirt and plastic gloves, while the man wears a blue cap, white apron, and dress shirt. Store shelves with baked goods, candies, and flowers are visible behind them.

Humble 70s
Beginnings

This is Olha and Andrew Ilnicki. The Ilnicki family and their son are co-owners of East Village Meat Market, a longtime purveyor of quality butcher cuts, time-honored recipes, and commitment to community.

The market was founded in 1972 when the late Julian Baczynsky fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning a business and opened the humble Ukrainian butcher shop. As a young employee, Andrew worked his way up the ranks, learning the trade at the steel counter and eventually becoming the owner himself.