[QUOTE=Gianni;300214]
What was once a unique and wonderful ethnic enclave is now basically a cheap tourist trap filled with liquors stores, sports bars and burger joints. And IMO it's the Greektown merchants themselves, or some of them, who are to blame. No strategic vision of the historic values that made Greektown Greektown, just short sighted self interest, and spiteful infighting.QUOTE]

Reminds me, unfortunately, of Little Italy in New York. Always shrinking and no longer even slightly Italian [[the remaining places are parodies of Italian places).

I have been surprised since it opened that the Greektown Casino hasn't championed it's "Greekness" at all. I would have thought that they would have attempted to keep that. If I were the Casino, I would operate a 24-hour Greek diner. You know, like lots of places EXCEPT GREEKTOWN have. I would replace the vapid Bistro 555 with a real authentic, upscale Greek restaurant. Indigenous neighborhood character is the one thing GHC has that the other 2 can't invent.

I also think that the neighborhood could benefit from an independent film cinema, with 5 or 6 screens. It would bring in people who are looking for something more offbeat than mainstream ,movies. Those same people, I think, would be more likely to patronize unique shops and restaurants than average casino patrons.