The leader of the Greektown Chamber of Commerce, Yianni Theoharis, who is a 20-year business owner, has created this community association for all the merchants in the Greektown area to come together.

“The purpose of this association is to preserve and keep Greektown alive,” said Theoharis.

While a large fire destroyed three Greektown businesses located directly across the street from his establishments nearly a year ago, Theoharis has managed to keep his two businesses, Meli’s and 9 Muses, alive without having to raise prices or cut back on quality.

“We believe that in a city you should have ethnic towns and areas like this, so the city can get a little bit of flavor instead of blending everything and everything becomes like a chain, like a Starbucks or Subway,” said Theoharis.

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) feels that the Greektown restaurants are very valuable to his ward, especially in a state like Illinois where every extra $1 million spent in eating and drinking places generates an additional 28.1 jobs in the state, according to National Restaurant Association’s website.

“The importance of the Greektown restaurants to my ward is several. For one, it attracts a lot of tourists from outside of the ward to come to the ward. Not only do they go to the restaurants, but they go to other stores. They help keep a lot of businesses in place, but also keep a lot of people working,” said Burnett.

The only business owner that was able to rebuild after the Greektown fire, James Manolakos, says his business is just as good as before, but believes it would be even better if his neighbors rebuilt as well.

“If you have a lot small businesses in one location it’ll attract more people and then there’s like a trickle down effect,” said Manolakos.

Within the last five years Manolakos has seen business at Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop, located at 322 S. Halsted St., increase despite having to raise prices to coincide with the rising cost of food commodities.

“At the end of the day if you have a good product it will stay afloat, and your competitors won’t be able to compete with you,” said Manolakos.

Demetra Markopoulos, president of The Hellenic Professional Society of Illinois, which serves as a meeting ground for individuals of Hellenic decent to network, holds their meetings and events at Greek venues in hopes of supporting their fellow Greeks.

“Greeks are known for hospitality and owning restaurants, and that is a strong presence in Chicago,” said Markopoulos.

As Greektown businesses continue to promote their well-known gyros, saganaki, and feta, Markopoulos recommends Greek Islands restaurant for traditional sit-down Greek food that will make you feel like you’re on the island, and 9 Muses for a laid back atmosphere and a great shish kabob.

A new home for Greektown and its visitors will open less than 100 feet from where this fire took place: the National Hellenic Museum.

After nearly a decade of preparation, the Greektown community plans to see the doors open to the state-of-the art museum in fall 2011.

“Our goal is connecting generations through Greek history, culture and art,” said the director of education and programs for the museum, Vivian Haritos. “The experience people will get here is a very in-depth view into the Greek culture.”

The announcement for the museum’s completion comes during a troubling year for the Greektown community. In February, a fire destroyed Costa’s Greek Dining along with Greektown Gift and Music Shop, Athens Grocery and the Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop — one of which was in the neighborhood for over 30 years.

“I live right outside of Greektown and a lot of people were really upset about the fire earlier this year,” said University of Illinois-Chicago student Marcus Marshall. “I think the museum is definitely something Greektown can be positive about and look forward to.”

Marshall, 25, believed the new museum would attract both locals and visitors to the area. He also said the added publicity of the museum could bring more life to the neighborhood.

“Greektown is already a fun place to visit with plenty of great restaurants and shops,” said Marshall. “Adding a new museum should only make it an even greater tourist attraction.”

Curator of the National Hellenic Museum, Bethany Fleming, believes the project will not only interest those of Greek descent but the entire community as well.

“This isn’t a history museum or an arts museum but rather a cultural museum,” said Fleming. “We want people to feel like it’s a museum for everyone.”

The $15 million building, located at 333 S. Halsted St, will contain thousands of artifacts ranging from 1400 B.C. to the present. The new space occupies 40,000 square feet, compared to 7,000 at its current location on the fourth floor of 801 W. Adams Street.

Exhibits will rotate throughout the year with the exception of one mainstay: Homer’s Odyssey. This exhibit hopes to document Homer’s art of storytelling and its influence on different cultures.

“Our goal with Homer’s exhibit is to tell how one element of Greek culture has influenced western civilization,” said Fleming. “It will explore how The Odyssey has influenced modern storytelling from [The Coen Brothers] O’ Brother Where Art Thou to Tupac Shakur.”

The project was established with both private and public funding. The city of Chicago committed $3.5 million in tax increment financing money for the museum.

Free street and valet parking will be available for visits to the museum. Those wishing to stay for the day can park in public lots for $6.