An Afternoon in Greektown
We spend a lot of time thinking about travel, especially when we’re at home planning the next trip. It’s easy to forget that we’re just outside of great thriving city with a lot fun things to do. I sometimes feel strange walking around town with my camera like a tourist, but why not? Looking through my had drive full of pictures I’ve done it at least once.
Greektown is an area in Detroit that dates back to the 1800s. It was originally a neighborhood of German immigrants but the Greeks moved in and left an indelible mark on the area. Nowadays people think of the casino when you mention the area, but we’re not gamblers so the closest we got to the casino floor was a restaurant on Monroe St.
The touristy thing in the local restaurants is to enjoy Saganaki.
There is a beautiful Catholic Church on Monroe called Old Saint Mary’s. The church originally serviced the German residents of the area and was the home Reverend John Lemke, who was the first native born Catholic priest of Polish descent in the US.
Along Monroe one can often find buskers to remind you of Detroit’s musical roots.
Unfortunately, due to the mismanagement Detroit is known for, some of the landmarks are no longer in use and are for sale. The Wayne County building is fantastic, full of striking statues. It was sold in 2014 for $13.4 million and has been renovated to some extent since I took these photos. The owner is looking for a long term tenant if you’re interested.
Another area that has been affected by the resurgence of Detroit is the area near the Fox theater. Mike Ilich, the Little Cesar’s pizza magnate, ran Olympia Entertainment and owned the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings before he died. The District Detroit area has recently opened along Woodward Avenue and has forever changed the area. You can read about my first impressions of the new Little Cesar’s Arena here.
Another striking Catholic Church in the area is Saint Anne’s.
What visit to Detroit would be complete without stopping in Mexican Town for Carnitas.
We love Lupita’s Taqueria. Just be sure to bring cash.
The Greektown area is really being swept up in the resurgence of Detroit. So many ethnicities have contributed to the flavor of the city. It’s easy to live and work in the area and forget to enjoy it.
~ Freddy
