Metro Detroit's "Little Italy"? (Warren, Sterling Heights: gated, to live in, restaurant)

[and the]

Most of East Dearborn was Italian and Polish. As far as Detroit itself, I think the East side had a bigger Italian flavor than the West side.

[Dexterguy]

Randazzo's Markets in Roseville(I believe?) and Westland still has the BEST prices on fresh fruit and veggies today. I love Randazzo's.

[Blue Grass Fever]

There was an italian enclave in/around the Ford Rouge Complex in the early 1900's; which was around/between Fort St. and Oakwood Blvd. I believe it was called Oakwood Heights at one time. There are still a few remnants of "Little Italy" around there. The old bowling alley (Oakwood Blue Jackets) had a bocchi ball court behind it. (long gone..) There were a few italian restaurants around, but one remains from the 'golden age'. (Giovanni's)

My great grandmother settled in this area 'fresh' from Italy.

[Coldjensens]

There is a history book called "Italians In Detroit" you can get it at the Detroit Store in the Guardian building or the Fisher Building. Barnes & Noble had it too. I have not read it yet, but obviously Italians were a significant influence in Detroit.

[Blue Grass Fever]

Some indirect history relating to Detroit and italian enclaves via Giovanni's site. The area, as i read the link, was called "Oakwood". I knew it was something to that effect.

http://www.giovannisristorante.com/history.php

[Blue Grass Fever]

I found another 'indirect' link of history for Detroit regarding the many varied neighborhoods.....http://www.cityscapedetroit.org/Detr...borhoods.html#

[Motorvilleboy]

From what I recall, the largest Detroit Italian community got its start around Eastern Market and like other ethnic communities, succeeding generations just moved further out from downtown in the same direction. Since Eastern Market is northeast of downtown, today you'll find lots of Italian restaurants, venues, names, etc. on the east side of Detroit and in the Macomb County suburbs. Roma Cafe in Eastern Market calls itself the oldest Italian restaurant in the area. By the looks, you'd believe it, but it's still pretty great.

Someone mentioned the Italian community around the Rouge Plant in SW Detroit and east Dearborn. Yup, it's still there. Dearborn was pretty heavily Italian for much of the 20th century, including Mayor Guido who served for 23 years until his death a year ago. The community survives through Giovanni's (as mentioned), Roman Village Restaurant near the plant and my favorites: the Fish Market and Alcamo's Italian Market on Schaefer south of Michigan Ave, behind City Hall. Those two places alone draw from the whole region.

I'd agree that the east side community was larger, but on the west side, it was more concentrated in Dearborn. East Dearborn has become associated more with the growing local Arab population of late, though. Hopefully the two communities are getting along well enought to stay put.

[blackmike]

the surnames of my high school class read like an Italian phone book: Henry Ford II in Sterling Heights. Macomb county has tons of Italians.

[HossBoss77]

My grand-parents moved to the Italian district in Detroit, which was around the Eastern Market. My grandmother told me that the Italians used to be pretty big until they all decided to move. Windsor has a prominent Italian district. She also has told me that there were a unbelieveable ammount of race issues between the Italians, Polish, Jewish and African Americans way back in the twenties and thirties. Almost everyone from the town in Italy (Valleluce) my grandparents are from came to Detroit at one point or another, but there is not nearly as many Italians in Michigan than other areas such as the "Tri-State Area" or California.

[City of Motor]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

I have never heard much about Italians in Detroit and I am a history buff. Originally French and English. Later, lots of Polish and Slavic people, quite a few Scandanavians, lots of African Americans, more recently lots of Middle easterners and Hispanic's/Mexicans. Probably a lot of Canadians too.

No room left for Italians.

About 20 years ago there were a lot of ialians in the Fraser/Roseville area. I am not sure whether that is still true.

Apparently, there are a lot of Italians in Detroit. WITHIN CITY LIMITS.