Where is greektown in chicago

In the early s, a concentration of Greek businesses hovered north of the Loop near Clark and Kinzie. Many of the initial Greek immigrants worked in the railroads and stockyards or as laborers and peddlers often selling fruits and vegetables. A cultural ritual in Greece is to enjoy coffee for hours at a cafe while catching up with friends, hearing and sharing news. It also created a reprieve from crowded living situations that new immigrants often had to endure. There were other enclaves of Greek settlements in the s.

And wherever there were Greeks, there was a Greek Orthodox church to serve the community. Another enclave of Greek life was in the predominantly German neighborhood of Lincoln Square. More on UIC and its effect on Greektown later. Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church was the anchor of Greek-American life then and now, in , is marking 90 years in the community.

By , more than 10, Chicago area-run businesses had Greek owners. Along with family, church provided an important spiritual, stabilizing and social foundation. The church is now on N. Lasalle, built in It now makes its home on W. Assumption Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago was founded in with the current structure built in A significant reason why Greek immigrants along with immigrants and settlers from Italian, Latino, African-American and Jewish backgrounds were able to get settled and start their new lives with a fighting chance was the result of the work by the Hull House, established in by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr.

Addams and Gates were inspired by the settlement home movement started in London in the s. They worked by attracting middle-class women and men who were educated and native-born to settle and reside in poorer, urban neighborhoods and do some good while living there. In the settlement homes, immigrants of diverse communities gathered to learn, share a meal together, socialize and acquire skills to acclimate to their new country.

Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in In , construction of the Eisenhower Expressway and then later the Kennedy Expressway chopped off large sections of the Greek Delta area displacing Greeks along with many minority groups in the area.

It displaced hundreds of Greek businesses and homes. The neighborhood became smaller and shifted north. Greektown of today is concentrated on Halsted from Monroe to Van Buren. Preserving Greek culture and language is important to the Greek Chicago community. The Chicago Greektown Education Foundation was formed in The non-profit helps to raise money for Greek schools in the Chicago area to maintain Greek school programs.

Since , Gus Couchell and a group of his friends pursued their American dream through their restaurant. Couchell continues to oversee that ingredients are top quality. He imports olive oil, Greek lima beans, orzo and wine from Greece. He passionately told me that the best lamb comes from Colorado and that his fish is flown in fresh from the Mediterranean.

Head to Artopolis Bakery for a Greek coffee and pastry in the morning. There are sandwiches, pizzas, salads, soups and a hot bar. Also, a full bar. Come for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Greek News. All Archaeology Art Charity Crime. Greek news. The Greeks of Bogota, Colombia. The Greeks of Bogota, Colombia November 13, By Tasos Kokkinidis. Toggle navigation.

Welcome to Greektown Chicago Our culture. Your adventure. Newsletter Recipe Spotlight: Greek pumpkin pie with phyllo and honey Looking for a pumpkin pie recipe that incorporates some traditional Greek elements like phyllo and honey?

Look no […] Full Article. Newsletter Greek mythology-inspired Halloween costumes. Newsletter Fill out the WeWillChicago surveys to help contribute to citywide plan Who will plan for the future of Chicago? Both traditional […] Full Article. Greektown Chicago Instagram chicagogreektown. Nothing says Greek food like lamb chops and our mo. Looking for a unique combo for dinner tonight?

We love seeing Greektown through your eyes! Tag u. As the weather gets colder, cozy up to a warm bowl. FRYdays are so much better when they include tac.