Greektown

The National Hellenic Museum is in the heart of Chicago’s Greektown. You can extend your cultural experience before or after visiting the Museum by exploring Greektown.

History of Chicago’s Greektown

The first Greeks in Chicago arrived as ship captains in the 1840s. They started out as food peddlers and, by natural progression, became restaurant owners. Around the turn of the century, the Greeks concentrated around the Harrison, Blue Island and Halsted area, originally known as the as Delta but later re-named as Greektown. During the 1960s, Greektown was displaced by the Eisenhower Expressway and the University of Illinois at Chicago, forcing a move north a few blocks.

In 1968, gyros and saganaki (flaming cheese) were introduced in this country by Chicago’s Greektown. From 1970 to 1990, most of the current restaurants and businesses opened, and the Taste of Greece summer festival became a tradition. In 1996, the City of Chicago helped erect traditional Greek temples and pavilions at the major intersections in Greektown.

Today, Old World traditions are prevalent in the many establishments of Greektown. The language is still heard in the neighborhood, and the community comes together during the annual Greek Independence Day parade, the Taste of Greece and the days surrounding Greek Easter.

For more information about the businesses and restaurants who are a part of Chicago’s Greektown, please visit www.greektownchicago.org.

 

 

 

 

Explore Greektown Circa 1950

1) Holy Trinity Church, 1101 S. Peoria St.	32) Dore Public School	63) Sarantakis Greek Grocery Store	94) Row of Houses and Horse Barns
2) Mrs. O’Leary (origin of Great Chicago Fire)	33) Jimmy’s Pool Hall	64) Sarta Coffee House	95) Horse Barns
3) Turner Brothers Clothing Store	34) Soter’s Shoe Shine Supplies	65) Greek Taverna	96) Horse barns
4) 12th Street Store	35) Cigar Store	66) Kephalonia Coffee House	97) Psihalinos Wholesale Butcher
5) Salerno Undertaker	36) Mandakas Jewelry Store	67) Halfpap Fish Store	98) Print Shop
6) Italian Photographer	37) Italian Restaurant (upstairs Hotel run by Mr. Petmezas)	68) Klein’s Sporting Goods	99) Gypsies
7) Banco Di Napoli (Bank)	38) Shoe Repair and Shoe Shine	69) Unknown	100) Elias Coffee House
8) Broadway Restaurant	39) Greek Restaurant	70) Syros Greek Pastry Shop	101) Kournelis Bakery
9) Fontanella Italian Sweet Shop	40) Waverly Theater	71) White Glove Barber Shop	102) John Psihalinos Undertaker Parlor (w/ Marzano)
9A) Conti Di Savoia Italian Grocery	41) Crete Bakery	72) Trianon Pharmacy (Yiannis brothers)	103) Arcadia Bakery
10) Hull House (Jane Addams)	42) Laski	73) Tri-Motto Restaurant	104) Doukas Hay and Grain
11) Tavern	43) Parthenon Restaurant	74) Athens Grocery Store	105) New Agora Meat Market
12) Greek Snack Shop	44) Kalavreta Coffee House	75) Athens restaurant	106) Spargos Italian restaurant
13) Athenian Candle Shop, (747 S. Halsted)	45) New Congress Hotel	76) “Greek Press” (Paul Javaras, Ed.)	107) Poulakes Bakery (Greek American Printing Co. Between 107 &108)
14) El Paso Mexican Tavern	46) Tavern	77) Mallars Wholesale Greek Grocery Store	108) Poulakes Bakery (Greek American Printing Co. Between 107 &108)
15) Kastritis Travel Agency	47) Pool Hall	78) Factories	109) Eptanson Bakery
16) Thessalia Greek Restaurant	48) Standard Wholesale Grocers	79) Messinia Grocery Store	110) Lot for city truck
17) Book Binding Shop	49) Unknown	80) Kesaris and Rikos Grocery Store	111) City Electric Department
18) Barber Shop	50) Turek Hardware Store	81) Camperis Funeral Home	112) City Electric Department
19) International Greek Restaurant	51) Tavern	81A) Bruggemeyer Wholesale Candy (corner of Peoria and Harrison)	113) Hellas Greek restaurant
20) Kalamata Coffee House	52) Furniture Store	82) Damianos Printers (Greek Art Printing and Publishing Co.), 831 W. Harrison	114) Kentrikon Coffee House
21) Row of Greek Houses	53) Tenement Flats	83) Pantheon restaurant	115) Stamos Store Fixtures
22) Collias Undertaker	54) Seven Seas Restaurant	84) New Era Building	116) Atlas Grocery
23) Pilafas Greek Grocery Store (Washington Dairy)	55) The Villa Theater	85) Melissa Candle	117) Sterea Ellas Coffee House
24) Crete Coffee House	56) Halsted Jewelry Store	86) Makedonia Greek restaurant	118) Galanopoulos Leather Shop
25) Tuxedo Rental Shop (Italian owned)	57) Cigar store	87) Bouras Linen and Wedding Dress Shop	119) Mid-City Butcher Shop (Klikas)
26) Verros Travel Agency, 617 S. Halsted	58) Fruit Store	88) Mavritsas Coffee House	120) Gramatikakis Photographer
27) Muzakiotis Music Store	59) Mid City Hardware	89) Italian Barber Shop	121) Ice Cream Wagons
28) Deligiannis Greek Grocery Store	60) Mr. Chips Restaurant	90) Horse Barns	122) Hall for Greek Affairs
29) Phoenix Pastry Shop	61) “L” Restaurant	91) Kynouria Coffee House	123) Collias Grocery Store
30) Seven Islands Cigar, Dennis Gianakis	62) Diana Greek Store	92) Minerva Gambling House (Barbout Game)	124) Coffee Shop
31 ) Row of Tenement Flats	62A) Eureka Flower Shop	93) James Lalagos Grocery and Restaurant