Greektown

BY: Stephen Jones, Puja Brahmbhatt, Lejla Osijan, Maria Ravazoula

History of Greektown
The people from Greece first made their way to the Chicago area in
the 1840s. Many of them were food peddlers meaning that they
would sell small amounts of foods to make a living. They first
established the Greektown community- also known as The Deltaaround the Harrison, Blue Island and Halsted areas. For a time, this
area of Greek culture was the largest established community of
Greeks in the United States.

History of Greektown
As time continued on the food peddlers established restaurants and
began introducing Greek cuisine into American culture. In 1960
Greektown was relocated to the north due to the Eisenhower
Expressway, and the University of Chicago being constructed.

History of Greektown
Most of the restaurants and businesses of Greektown have been
around since 1970, and the language is spoken by some restaurant
servers as well as business owners. In 1996 Greektown was
recognized by the city of Chicago, and the city spent millions of
dollars into maintaining streets, as well as adding some Greek
looking architecture throughout the neighborhood.

How to Get to Greek Town

PRETTTTYYYYY SIMPLE
You get on the red line going south and get off at North and
Clybourn. Thats literally the first stop underground. So you go up
a bunch of stairs and come out to the street.
Walk to Halsted which is right there not even a block.
Get on the Halsted bus (56) going away from the loop. Its a good
15 minute ride and get off on Jackson.
And youre there!

Fun Things to do in Greek Town

The Taste of Greece happens every August and they have other
parades throughout the year.
In 1996, Chicago funded street renovations and the building of
traditional Greek pavilions at various points in the neighborhood.
Because of this, Greektown very well reflects Greek culture.

More Fun Things to do in Greektown

The Hellenic Museum in Greektown is great for people who want
learn about the history of ancient Greece, contemporary Greek
society, and the Greek immigrant experience.
There are also great restaurants with Greek food!

Main Dishes
Pastitsio

Food in Greektown:
What
to
get

Mousaka

Salads

Appetizers
Greek
(Choriatiki)
Pies

Gemista
(Stuffed
vegetables)

Dakos

Red Meat

Horta
(Boiled
Greens)

Tzatziki
Fries

Gyros

Saganaki

Souvlaki

Tirokafteri
Deep fried zucchini

Pork ribs,
steak etc
White Meat
Many

Desert
Mpougatsa
Mosaiko
Loukoumades
Baklava
Amygdalota
Galaktoboureko

Food in Greektown: Where to get it

1. Athena

4. Greek Islands

212 S Halsted St,

200 S Halsted
St.

2. 9 Muses
315 S Halsted St

3. Artopolis

5. Zeus
a. 806 W
Jackson Blvd

306 S Halsted St
1. Pan Hellenic
Pastry Shop
322 S Halsted

2. Meli Cafe
301 S Halsted
St

Pujas Reflection
It was a great experience learning about Greektown and how the
community comes together to make a great cultural place. It is really
cool how they were able to plan parades and maintain Greek
architecture and bring that to a city like Chicago to help others learn
about their culture. The restaurants and museums are great
resources for outsiders to the community to learn more about the
Greek culture and I am glad I got to learn so much about the
community.

Stephens Reflection
I thought Greektown was a pretty awesome place. I am an immigrant of sorts, so it is fascinating to me to see
how different groups of people are bringing their culture, cuisine, and tradition to America. When we stepped off
the bus one of the first things I remember seeing was a CVS store which had Greek spelling on it as well as
English. We went to a restaurant called Athena, and it was some of the best food Ive had since coming to
Chicago. I cant remember exactly what I did, but Maria scolded me in her Greek language, probably because I
ate the peppers which werent meant for eating but rather for flavoring in the cooking process. Beforehand she
had carried a conversation with the server in fluent Greek which was super cool to me, Ive always wanted to
learn a language that wasnt Spanish, although being able to speak Spanish is an excellent skill to possess. Im a
very adventurous person, and I love to travel so it was neat that a little piece of Greece was here and accessible
in America. It was also really cool to see how much fun Maria was having and it seemed as though she were back
at home. It makes me jealous that Chicago doesnt have a Canadatown! Nevertheless I believe there is a lot of
merit to getting out of the American way of life, and finding something outside of your comfort zone that makes
you feel uncomfortable. Thats why I think so many people want to study abroad and learn a new language.

Marias Reflection
My experience in one word? AWESOME. I was really excited on my
way there because I had missed both home and Greektown. I wanted
to draw lines of comparison between the area and Athens. Greektown
seemed like any other suburb of Chicago on the outside. But on the
inside, it had the Greek spirit and the liveliness of the Greek people. I
knew it wasnt home, but it was close to it and it certainly reminded
me of all the value of the Greek people: family, hospitality, love and
passion.

Laylas Reflection
I am actually from Chicago and Greektown is one of my favorite neighborhoods. It is so
similar in style and food to my own culture which is under represented here in Chicago.
My favorite restaurant in Greektown is Athenas and thats where my group and I went.
The waiters and whole restaurant operate like any restaurant in Europe which reminds
me of home. I ordered a chicken kabob with a friend of mine who also came along. Soon
Maria was scolding my friend not to eat the peppers and onions, that they were only
there for flavor. Maria however seemed to be in pure bliss. I feel like she felt like she was
at home. When we first got to Greektown there was a Walgreens with a sign that said
pharmacy in Greek. Even though we were still in Chicago I felt like it was a whole
different city. The little bakery shops and statues welcomed a person even more.
Whenever Im going out with friends and its up to me to decide where to go, its always
a restaurant in Greektown and I think that says enough about my experience and
feelings of Greektown.

Some Pictures

And of course a group selfie was

needed.

Sources
"Greektown History." Greektownchicago. Virtus Creative Group, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
Grinnell, Max. "Greektown." Greektown. Encyclopedia of Chicago, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.
"Greektown, a Chicago Neighborhood Visitor Guide from Chicago Traveler." Greektown, a
Chicago Neighborhood Visitor Guide from Chicago Traveler. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.