Greektown Chicago
The Decline of Greektowns: A Crisis of Identity and a Call to Action
Written By: KTE Executive Board
Across the globe, once-thriving Greektowns are fading. These historic neighborhoods — built by the hands of immigrants who brought their language, religion, and traditions from the mountains and islands of Greece — are now marked by silence and decline. In cities such as Chicago, Melbourne, Montreal, and New York, Greektowns were more than ethnic hubs; they were sanctuaries of Hellenic identity and centers of communal pride. But today, many of these once-vibrant areas are slowly dissolving into the urban landscape; their distinct character weakened by time, assimilation, and neglect.