According to Reading Greek America Studies in the Experience of Greeks in the United States, large concentrations of Greeks are located in multiple sections of New York . They can be found in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Washington Heights, Manhattan. The most sizable grouping of Greek Americans, however, can be found in Astoria in Queens, estimated at about 60-70,000.
Originally Greek immigrants flocked to urban environments because this allowed them to not only “cultivated the commercial needs of their own ethnic group” but to “vie for control over the cities’ larger commercial and manufacturing interests.”(Orfanos, 174) In other words, they were able to make a living, support this country, and hold their own, gaining respect and success.
Currently, it is not only urban areas in which Greeks claim residence. There are now three types of Greek American communities in New York City, as well as in other areas of the country. The first two, a predominantly post World War II Greek American community made up of more recent immigrants and a mixed Greek American community of early and late Greek immigrants and their families, are made up of hard workers, entrepreneurs, and white and blue collar workers of the lower middle class. These immigrants dwell in urban areas so they can remain employed and be close to their parishes. (Orfanos, 175).
The third type of Greek American community is comprised of upper middle class persons, having been extremely successful in business and their professions. This group is becoming more and more suburban, moving out of the areas of crowded cities like Astoria and into more desirable, quiet locations with more space and less craze. (Orfanos, 175).
The numbers in Bay Ridge and Washington Heights have been especially declining in recent years, but Greek Americans in Astoria are flocking to more peaceful areas as well. A preferred destination for these immigrants is Long Island. While geographically it remains part of Queens, Long Island is just far enough away to stay close to relatives while escaping urban life.
In fact there has been a slew of Greek restaurants popping up in different towns of Long Island. In Babylon there is Acropolis Souvlaki & Gyro, in Amityville there’s Athena Greek Restaurant, in Great Neck there is Cafe Rustica, and the list goes on. Some Greek Americans have moved to Staten Island as well. Zorba’s Mediterranean Grill is located on Hylan Boulevard in Old Town.
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