Greektown

Until the 1960s, the area around Harrison, Blue Island and Halsted was home to Chicago's highest concentration of Greeks. Originally known as Deltaîbut (the Delta), the Greeks were displaced by the Eisenhower Expressway and the construction of the University of Illinois at Chicago and were forced to move a few blocks north. The population of Greeks in Greektown has since decreased, but the cultural influence of the country is still very present in the neighborhood. Halsted, the main thoroughfare that cuts through the area, is home to the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, numerous Greek businesses, and an overwhelming number of Greek dining establishments. As a matter of fact, it is believed that "gyros and saganaki (flaming cheese) were introduced in this country" by the restaurants along this strip. Greektown is also home to an annual parade and street festival that "highlight the continuation of Greek heritage in Chicago."