Greektown is a commercial and entertainment district in Detroit, Michigan, United States, located northeast of Downtown Detroit, along Monroe Avenue between Brush and St. Antoine streets. It has a station by that name on the city's elevated downtown transit system known as the Detroit People Mover. Greektown is situated between the Renaissance Center, Comerica Park, and Ford Field.

Named for the historic Greek immigrant community of the early 20th century, the district still has Greek-themed restaurants. Notable buildings include Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, St. Mary Roman Catholic Church (originally built for the former ethnic German congregation of the parish), Second Baptist Church, the Atheneum Suite Hotel, and the contemporary Hollywood Casino at Greektown (formerly Trapper's Alley, opened in 1972 by Frances and David Sonne) within its boundaries. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

History

thumb|left|upright|[[Greektown Casino Hotel with St. Mary's Church in the foreground]]

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 ethnic German residents, who had gotten established in the city, began moving from the neighborhood into newer residential areas farther from downtown. The neighborhood threw a Greek festival in 1966, timed to coincide with Fourth of July celebrations. The neighborhood is a popular restaurant and entertainment district, having many restaurants that serve authentic Greek cuisine, and one of the city's three casinos, Hollywood Casino at Greektown. Certain buildings on Monroe Street feature themes related to the mythical Pegasus, and such historic Greek structures as the Parthenon, and other ancient architecture. Greek music is played on Monroe Street throughout the day. Well-known restaurants include The Golden Fleece, Bakaliko Cafe, Pegasus Taverna, and Fishbone's Rhythm Kitchen Cafe. The Detroit People Mover has a station at the Hollywood Casino on Beaubien Street between Monroe Street and Lafayette Boulevard.

Greektown is featured in the video game Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition (2005).

In the American cable TV series Low Winter Sun (2013), the Detroit Police precinct is located four blocks from Greektown. Maya and Damon "kick up" tributes from her bar and from their drug and prostitution earnings to Skelos, Greektown's main crime lord. Seeking to gain independence from Skelos, Damon opens a blind pig outside of Greektown, where he kicks up to Reverend Lowdown (season 1, episodes 3 and 4).

See also

  • History of the Greek Americans in Metro Detroit
  • Greektown station

References

  • Greektown Merchants Association