Greek Town in South of Market: Difference between revisions

(Created page with "'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>''' ''by Woody LaBounty'' ''Originally published on [https://opensfhistor...")
 
No edit summary
 
Line 29: Line 29:
We sent this image to Jim Lucas, president of the San Francisco Greek Historical Society, who shared some thoughts:
We sent this image to Jim Lucas, president of the San Francisco Greek Historical Society, who shared some thoughts:


<blockquote> great photograph related to the history of our community. Some historical context:
<blockquote>A great photograph related to the history of our community. Some historical context:


“Greeks started to arrive in San Francisco in 1880s but in much greater numbers after the 1906 earthquake and fire, primarily to fill the need for workers needed to rebuild the city.
Greeks started to arrive in San Francisco in 1880s but in much greater numbers after the 1906 earthquake and fire, primarily to fill the need for workers needed to rebuild the city.


“A Greek town started to develop on 3rd street. It was the center of the Greek business district. The businesses in the 100, 200, 300, and 400 block of 3rd street of overwhelmingly Greek owned. That would be also true for the adjoining side streets. There is distinction to be made between businesses and residences. Yes, Greeks lived in this area but so did many other immigrants of different nationalities.
A Greek town started to develop on 3rd street. It was the center of the Greek business district. The businesses in the 100, 200, 300, and 400 block of 3rd street of overwhelmingly Greek owned. That would be also true for the adjoining side streets. There is distinction to be made between businesses and residences. Yes, Greeks lived in this area but so did many other immigrants of different nationalities.


“The demographics changed dramatically with the building of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Many Greeks were displaced and moved their businesses to different areas of the city.</blockquote>
The demographics changed dramatically with the building of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Many Greeks were displaced and moved their businesses to different areas of the city.</blockquote>


[[category:SOMA]] [[category:1910s]] [[category:1920s]]
[[category:SOMA]] [[category:1910s]] [[category:1920s]]

Latest revision as of 20:24, 17 August 2020

Historical Essay

by Woody LaBounty

Originally published on Opensfhistory.org, January 2019.

Italian North Beach and Chinatown weren’t the only ethnic enclaves of San Francisco in the early twentieth century. South of Market Street “Greek Town” was the center of local life for Greeks in the city. In the OpenSFHistory collection we came across a Department of Public Works photo from a century ago this week showing part of Greek Town on 3rd Street:

3rd near Folsom Jan 23, 1919 wnp36.01984.jpg

East side of 3rd Street between Folsom and Harrison. Greek-owned businesses, including Patris Photo Studio, Constantinople Cafe, Acropolis Bar and Grill, and Apollo Bros. Cigars. January 23, 1919.

Photo: Opensfhistory.org, wnp36.01984.jpg; Horace Chaffee photograph, Department of Public Works Book 23, DPW image 5738; copy courtesy of a private collector

The Grecian consulate was at the corner of Mission and 3rd Streets, the Greek American Hall stood at 2nd and Harrison, and the first Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church was built at 345 7th Street (the building still stands, now as St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church). Greek-owned restaurants, hotels, and cafes operated in between these community centers.

Occupying this block in 2019 is a mixed-use complex built in the 1980s. I believe it was originally called St. Francis Square, but has been rechristened as “SoMa Square.”

(Side note: old-time San Franciscans positively bristled when “SOMA” began being used in the 1980s by real estate developers. My grandfather was among many who called the area “South of the Slot,” a reference to old cable car lines on Market Street. While SOMA is one of many lost battles to real estate rebranding, it is better than another term used for 3rd Street back then: “Skid Row.”)

This circa 1920 photograph of the block gives a closer view of some of the businesses:

View east across 3rd in Greek Town area. Athens Restaurant and Oyster House, Smyrna Cafe 317 3rd, Constantinople Cafe 321 3rd. wnp33.03247.jpg

East side of 3rd Street, south of Folsom. Athens Restaurant & Oyster House, Smyrna Cafe at 317 3rd Street and Constantinople Cafe at 321 3rd Street, circa 1920.

Photo: OpenSFHistory.org, wnp33.03247; courtesy of a private collector

We sent this image to Jim Lucas, president of the San Francisco Greek Historical Society, who shared some thoughts:

A great photograph related to the history of our community. Some historical context:

Greeks started to arrive in San Francisco in 1880s but in much greater numbers after the 1906 earthquake and fire, primarily to fill the need for workers needed to rebuild the city.

A Greek town started to develop on 3rd street. It was the center of the Greek business district. The businesses in the 100, 200, 300, and 400 block of 3rd street of overwhelmingly Greek owned. That would be also true for the adjoining side streets. There is distinction to be made between businesses and residences. Yes, Greeks lived in this area but so did many other immigrants of different nationalities.

The demographics changed dramatically with the building of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. Many Greeks were displaced and moved their businesses to different areas of the city.