For whatever reason, Italians in Chicago have just never been able to keep their neighborhoods in tact like they have out east.
Well, that was certainly true for a long time. But the Italian neighborhoods here in New York City are greatly diminished now, too.
The spirit remains (for instance, delis and restaurants on Arthur Avenue and Mulberry Street). But the Italian American populace itself has mostly moved to the suburbs.
The reason the mob has held on longer here is because there were just so many more Italian Americans in the East to begin with.
"I got news for you. If it wasn't for the toilet, there would be no books." --- George Costanza.
