The dreams of a new life for Italian immigrants in ‘L’Merica’ were mixed in the land discovered by Cristoforo Colombo. In their tightly knit neighborhoods, they had in common: poverty, culinary flavors, culture, and unwavering faith in God. Some of these pockets of Italian Americans came to be recognized as Little Italys.

Early settlers landed near the center of Cleveland in Big Italy and others found their way to the west side’s Fulton, Clark and Detroit Ave. neighborhoods. There were a large share of Italians, well-represented, in the east side’s Collinwood, Blue Rock, E. 110th, and Woodland and Kinsman neighborhoods.