RIP Greektown: Laikon Closing

[illwill]

Its actually sad that its called Greektown because there is little left. I know everyone is blaming the casinos but I really think the stadiums are the one to blame. Once Ford Field and Comerica Park opened, then it seemed to drastically change to more of a sports bar and burger place.

You also have the problem that the Greek immigrants that owned these restaurants had kids that ended up going to college and wanted no part of the restaurant business. You can see it now in the Detroit restaurant scene. Its still dominated by Greeks but now you have a lot of Arabs and Albanians opening up restaurants. Once their kids grow up and get a college degree then you'll have a different ethnic group take over. Its like the concrete business. Once it was all Italians, now its dominated by Mexicans.

Did casinos really kill Detroit businesses? Was it the ball parks downtown? In my opinion businesses are a good thing. Maybe we should look at our city leaders if we're looking to blame anyone...

[cpanagio]

Did casinos really kill Detroit businesses? Was it the ball parks downtown? In my opinion businesses are a good thing. Maybe we should look at our city leaders if we're looking to blame anyone...

You're absolutely correct. I'm not advocating whats going on in any way but as a business [[and a very unique one), the Casino is going to do what's best for their interests, even if this includes leveling a city block in order to give their business a competitive advantage. The City of Detroit should have given the neighborhood some sort of heritage preservation status years ago to protect it from the fate thats about come of it. Unfortunately for Detroit, big money talks and palms need to be greased. It's only a matter of time before the old neighborhood is nothing but a memory.

[downtownguy]

Has this been picked up by the media at all? Not just the closing of the Laikon, but the absurdity of the reason behind it? I would think there would be outrage if more people were aware of this.