Greektown Historic District, also known as Greektown, is a historic neighborhood/commercial district in
DetroitDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
,
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, located just northeast of the heart of downtown, along Monroe Avenue between Brush and St. Antoine Streets. It is a primarily commercial district, dominated by Greek-themed restaurants, but also includes
St. Mary Roman Catholic ChurchSt. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan is among the oldest and most ornate churches in Detroit. It is located in heart of Greektown Historic District within Detroit's downtown area. It is sometimes called Old St. Mary's Church. The parish was founded in the 1830s by German immigrants...
,
Second Baptist ChurchSecond Baptist Church located at 441 Monroe Street within Greektown in Detroit, Michigan is the oldest African-American church in the Midwestern United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.- History :...
and the
Greektown CasinoGreektown Casino Resort in Detroit, Michigan is one of three casinos in the the city, and one of four in the Detroit-Windsor area. Majority owned by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the casino, which opened its doors on November 11, 2000, is operated by Millennium Management Group.- History...
within its boundaries. The district was listed on the
National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982.
The area known today as Greektown was first settled in the 1830s by German immigrants, who created a primarily residential neighborhood in the area.
Greektown Historic District, also known as Greektown, is a historic neighborhood/commercial district in
DetroitDetroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Wayne County. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwest region of the United States. Located north of Windsor, Ontario, Detroit is the only major U.S. city that looks south to Canada. It was founded...
,
MichiganMichigan is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It was named after Lake Michigan, whose name is a French adaptation of the Ojibwe term mishigama, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, located just northeast of the heart of downtown, along Monroe Avenue between Brush and St. Antoine Streets. It is a primarily commercial district, dominated by Greek-themed restaurants, but also includes
St. Mary Roman Catholic ChurchSt. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan is among the oldest and most ornate churches in Detroit. It is located in heart of Greektown Historic District within Detroit's downtown area. It is sometimes called Old St. Mary's Church. The parish was founded in the 1830s by German immigrants...
,
Second Baptist ChurchSecond Baptist Church located at 441 Monroe Street within Greektown in Detroit, Michigan is the oldest African-American church in the Midwestern United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.- History :...
and the
Greektown CasinoGreektown Casino Resort in Detroit, Michigan is one of three casinos in the the city, and one of four in the Detroit-Windsor area. Majority owned by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the casino, which opened its doors on November 11, 2000, is operated by Millennium Management Group.- History...
within its boundaries. The district was listed on the
National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982.
History
The area known today as Greektown was first settled in the 1830s by German immigrants, who created a primarily residential neighborhood in the area. However, in the earliest years of the 20th century, most of the German residents began moving from the neighborhood into areas further from downtown. As the Germans left the area, new Greek immigrants moved in, spurred by Theodore Gerasimos, the first documented Greek immigrant in Detroit. The newly-arrived Greeks established businesses in the neighborhood.
However, by the 1920s, the area was becoming primarily commercial rather than residential, and the Greek residents began moving out; however, the restaurants, stores, and coffeehouses they established remained. The next thirty years brought a menage of immigrants to the few residential spaces left in the neighborhood. Redevelopment in the 1960s led to a shrinkage of the neighborhood as buildings were razed to provide space for municipal buildings and parking. By 1965, the neighborhood had been reduced to little more than a single block of commercial buildings.
Realizing the culturally significant neighborhood was in danger of being snuffed out, Detroit's Greek leaders banded together. With the help of the Mayor's office, the streetscape and building exteriors were improved, and additional street lighting was installed. The neighborhood threw a Greek festival in 1966, timed to coincide with Fourth of July celebrations. The festival was a success, and was continued for years until turnout grew too large. By that time, Greektown was firmly established in Detroit. The Greektown Historic District was listed on the
National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982.
Greektown today remains distinctly Greek. The neighborhood is a popular restaurant and entertainment district, having many restaurants that serve authentic
GreekGreek cuisine is the traditional cuisine of Greece, a typical Mediterranean cuisine, sharing characteristics with the cuisines of Italy, the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Levant...
cuisine, as well as one of the city's three casinos,
Greektown CasinoGreektown Casino Resort in Detroit, Michigan is one of three casinos in the the city, and one of four in the Detroit-Windsor area. Majority owned by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the casino, which opened its doors on November 11, 2000, is operated by Millennium Management Group.- History...
. Certain buildings on Monroe Street are themed to resemble the
ParthenonThe Parthenon is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena whom the people of Athens considered their protector. It was built in the 5th century BC on the Athenian Acropolis. It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered to be the culmination of the development...
,
PegasusIn Greek mythology, Pegasus was a winged horse sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa...
, and other forms of
Greek architectureArchitecture was extinct in Greece from the end of the Mycenaean period to the 7th century BC, when plebian life and prosperity recovered to a point where public building could be undertaken...
. Greek music is also played on Monroe Street throughout the day. Well known restaurants include The Laikon Cafe, Cyprus Taverna, Pegasus Taverna, and Pizza Papalis. The
Detroit People MoverThe Detroit People Mover is a automated people mover system which operates on a single-track, one-way loop through the central business district of downtown Detroit, Michigan....
has a station at the Greektown Casino on Beaubien Street between Monroe Street and Lafayette Boulevard. Greektown is featured in the 2005 video game,
Midnight Club 3: DUB EditionMidnight Club 3: DUB Edition is a racing game, developed by Rockstar San Diego and published by Rockstar Games, and is the third game in the Midnight Club series. Like previous installments in the series, the game is an arcade-style racer and focuses on wild, high-speed racing, rather than...
.
External links