Polish Neighborhoods (Milwaukee, West Allis, Greenfield: house, schools, live in)

[schools]

Where are the Polish neighborhoods around the Milwaukee area? I am looking for some good homemade Pierogis! Any suggestions out towards Lake Country as well?

[quijote]

There are quite a few native Poles as well as many second-, third-, and fourth-generation Polish-Americans in the Milwaukee area. However, the original city neighborhoods where Poles settled have long since diversified, and the Polish community has pretty much fanned out throughout the area. Nevertheless, a strong Polish and Polish-American presence remains in southern Milwaukee County--parts of Milwaukee's south side and most of the southern suburbs, such as St. Francis, Cudahy, South Milwaukee (not to be confused with south Milwaukee), Oak Creek, Franklin, and West Allis.

The most well-known original Polish settlement in the city was the near south side (roughly the area bounded by National Ave., 1st St., Oklahoma Ave., and 27th St.), still often referred to as Polonia (even though the area is now predominantly Hispanic and is sometimes now referred to as the "Latin Quarter").

The Polish legacy in the near south side has been disappearing, but there are still many Polish Flats in use (mostly by Mexicans), a few churches associated with the Polish community are still there (though masses tend to be held in English and Spanish now), and a few Polish-speaking and Polish-heritage residents (mostly older) remain.

As far as I know, the only exclusively Polish grocery market in Milwaukee is still operating in this neighborhood: AJ Polish Deli at 1215 W. Lincoln Ave. I haven't been there in a while, though.

There used to be a larger Polish supermarket out in the burbs on 108th Ave., but it closed due to management problems. However, its location and size attested to the dispersed and updated Polish presence in the southern suburbs. Many of the mainstream supermarkets in the southern burbs sell Polish items, and I've been in a few small, independently run markets in the southern suburbs where Polish goods were sold. (I can't remember the names of places, though, but do a google search on small groceries and you'll find some names.)

Though the Polish community has largely dispersed and assimilated to mainstream Milwaukee, I have nonetheless heard plenty of Polish spoken at farmer's markets and other venues all over the south county area.

There are at least two Polish restaurants of note: Polonez, at 4016 S. Packard Ave. in St. Francis; and Crocus at 3577 S. 13th St. I was at Polonez a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it, but I haven't been to Crocus in a couple of years.

Though south Milwaukee and the southern burbs have the most Polish presence, there are other neighborhoods in the area where Poles created settlements. Jones Island had a strong Kasube population decades ago, and Poles (including some Kasubes and other Polish groups) had communities in Milwaukee's east side, both west of the river (in what is now Riverwest) and east of the River (with Pulaski Street as a main artery). Very little remains of the Polish legacy in these areas, though there are churches and businesses and streets with reminders of the Polish past.

Though the Polish population in Mke has dispersed, it's worth mentioning that there are many Russians in the Milwaukee area--particularly in the east side, Shorewood, and up along the North Shore. There is a nice little Russian grocery on Capitol Drive in Shorewood; it's called International Foods, or something like that. There are also a couple of Russian-oriented markets in Fox Point (near Bradley and Port Washington Rd.) and Mequon (the Continental Deli, near Mequon Rd. and Port Washington Rd.). I'm sure there are others that I don't know about.

There's also a vibrant Serbian (and generally post-Yugoslavian) population in the Mke metro, particularly in the southern suburbs. Last night I had dinner at the Carriage House Cafe in Cudahy--great food! There are quite a few other Serbian restaurants in the area.

[dkmisol]

Originally Posted by schools

I am looking for some good homemade Pierogis!

I've got a great recipe, if you'd like it Dziękuję

I'll also give you one of Milwaukee's best kept secrets: Tower Chicken on S. 6th Street - Some of the best Kielbasa made here, period.

Milwaukee still has much Polish heratige, but it seems a lot less than it once was. As mentioned above, there is a huge Russian influx in the North Shore (my families are of both Polish and Russian origins).

Grandma still speaks Polish some, but the dialects really throw her off now. I'm slowly picking it up from Rosetta Stone.

[berries]

sad what has happened since i was a kid.... mitchell st days wa a polish feista..now no one speaks english sad....very sad

[The Todd]

Originally Posted by schools

Where are the Polish neighborhoods around the Milwaukee area? I am looking for some good homemade Pierogis! Any suggestions out towards Lake Country as well?

they're pretty much gone. Its either white, black, or mexican now

[Nuclear_Art]

Originally Posted by Steveo25

they're pretty much gone. Its either white, black, or mexican now

Chicago still has a vibrant Polish community but Milwaukee doesn't have a specific area where Poles are. There are still some pockets that can be found. Probably the closest thing now is Russian and at International Foods on Capitol you can find an excellent variety of things. Milwaukee's Russian community is sizable. The Polish Deli on Lincoln caters largely to the Russians and Eastern Bloc folks on the south side.

[quijote]

Originally Posted by Nuclear_Art

Chicago still has a vibrant Polish community but Milwaukee doesn't have a specific area where Poles are. There are still some pockets that can be found. Probably the closest thing now is Russian and at International Foods on Capitol you can find an excellent variety of things. Milwaukee's Russian community is sizable. The Polish Deli on Lincoln caters largely to the Russians and Eastern Bloc folks on the south side.

There are a handful of smallish markets scattered around the southside and southern suburbs, that have Polish goods. One is called Europa, on 27th near Grange (in a strip mall); another I visited today is called Lucky's Mini Mart, on 84th just south of Greenfield (also in a strip mall; there's a Greek market in the same complex). There are a few others like that, but their names don't always immediately evoke Poland.

[MKE POL]

All these post are correct, A&J Polish Deli S.13th and Lincoln, Old World Deli(Polski) S.76th and Grange and Checkout Adee's.com for all your polski gear, they used to be on S.13th street but recently closed and you still can find them at polski Fest Milw. Don't forget food like at Crocus at 3577 S.13th Street and Polonez at 4016 S.Packard ave. for all authentic polski food.

There's an old polish saying on the southside "we stay where we belong...south of 94" South Milwaukee is at 67% polski with some claiming part polish.

hope that helps also check out www.markski.com for all your polish music, although you can find dvd's and cd's at both the deli's in MKE.

If your looking for a nightclub go to www.jedynka.com in Chi only an hour and 15 mins away on the cities northwest side.

[MILWCITY]

Lincoln Village- Polish and Latino

JS Online: Milwaukee’s Lincoln Village is a Polish and Latino melting pot

A lot of polish people still live in Lincoln Village unlike the rest of the southside, also for good food see Adamczyk's in Cudahy 3700 E. Hammond Ave.

[mattyluv]

Polish falcons!!!!!!!!!!