What was the last true Italian neighborhood in Chi? (Chicago: 2014, live)

[guidoLaMoto]

As late as the 80s, Cicero and the Grand/Harlem area had significant populations of Italian immigrants and one could live, shop & work without needing English, but only speaking Italian. Taylor St lost that homogeneity by the 60s (due to the sprawl of the Uof I). The northside enclave west of Old Town (famous for The Clark St Garage/St Valentine's Day massacre etc) had already dispersed by the 50s and was eventually replaced by Cabrini-Green. Others are correct about suburban dispersal with no dominant presence anymore.

Freddy's Pizza, 6100W on 16th St in Cicero is as close to a real Italian pasticceria as you'll find in Chicagoland today, although the neighborhood is more Mexican than Italian now. Good pannini, pizza and imported foods. Joe owns and has been running the place since he immigrated over 40 yrs ago. Nice place--good food, the BEST Italian gelati, sidewalk tables, friendly people.

[Ricordatevi-- E meglio andare a letto col colo gelato che con gelato in colo.]

[Larry Siegel]

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

The northside enclave west of Old Town (famous for The Clark St Garage/St Valentine's Day massacre etc) had already dispersed by the 50s and was eventually replaced by Cabrini-Green.

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre took place at 2122 North Clark Street, in Lincoln Park, north (not west) of Old Town, and nowhere near Cabrini-Green.

[Fighting Fungus]

There is no such thing as Italians anymore. They stopped coming many years ago and are more american than anything else. From Europe even the Polish have stopped coming. The next big ethnic group from Europe will be the Ukrainians.

[guidoLaMoto]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre took place at 2122 North Clark Street, in Lincoln Park, north (not west) of Old Town, and nowhere near Cabrini-Green.

Thanks for your OC correction, but it's only ~12 blocks and was regularly walked by my mother & her sibs for shopping, recreation etc back in the 30s. I'm good friends with a descendant of the owners of that garage. We both eventually wound up in the SW 'burbs. Now I'm in a rural setting where it's a half mile to my closest neighbor and 10 mi to the nearest stop light, so a mile and a half does not impress me.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

I'm not sure it's even big enough to call it a "neighborhood," but the little SW corner of Pilsen (around 24th and Oakley, as a previous poster mentioned) is probably the closest thing to an Italian area left. It has more of an Italian flavor (literally and figuratively) than the further north "Little Italy" that has been mostly absorbed by the UIC area.

[Master Jay]

SkylarPhotBooth, I mentioned that are because historically it was settled apparently from people from Northern Italy (Tuscany area). However, as many other posters have mentioned, after climbing the economic ladder, families were able to move to the suburbs. From my many visits to 24th and Oakley, people tend to say that Addison was the suburb that some of these previous residents relocated to. The strip along that area may, in fact, have some people of Italian background. But the predominance I have noticed appears to be Latino. There used to be a deli, Miceli's, that added to the ethnic flair of the neighborhood, but that was a closed building last time I was down there.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by Master Jay

SkylarPhotBooth, I mentioned that are because historically it was settled apparently from people from Northern Italy (Tuscany area). However, as many other posters have mentioned, after climbing the economic ladder, families were able to move to the suburbs. From my many visits to 24th and Oakley, people tend to say that Addison was the suburb that some of these previous residents relocated to. The strip along that area may, in fact, have some people of Italian background. But the predominance I have noticed appears to be Latino. There used to be a deli, Miceli's, that added to the ethnic flair of the neighborhood, but that was a closed building last time I was down there.

Like I said, it's a very tiny area that is left (and yes, of course Pilsen is largely Latinx, especially that far west), and I admit I haven't been there in two or three years, but in my opinion what was left of it at that time seemed more authentic than Taylor Street. Something about the businesses and food having more of a family-style vibe, I think.

[Master Jay]

SkylarkPhotoBooth, if you live in the area, you should attend their Father's Day celebration, Festa Pasta Vino. One will definitely feel the Italian vibe. I agree it feels more authentic than Taylor Street, these days! I love Rosebud there, though!

[hendersj31]

That is pretty west for Pilsen. I remember back in the day nobody called that part Pilsen. It was Heart of Chicago to folks living there.

Originally Posted by SkylarkPhotoBooth

Like I said, it's a very tiny area that is left (and yes, of course Pilsen is largely Latinx, especially that far west), and I admit I haven't been there in two or three years, but in my opinion what was left of it at that time seemed more authentic than Taylor Street. Something about the businesses and food having more of a family-style vibe, I think.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by hendersj31

That is pretty west for Pilsen. I remember back in the day nobody called that part Pilsen. It was Heart of Chicago to folks living there.

I think of it as part of Little Village, not Pilsen.