Milwaukee Ave, The Old Neighborhood

Rainbow, Milwaukee Ave

The Ark, Milwaukee Ave

Heads & Threads, Milwaukee Ave

Lingerie Store, Milwaukee Ave

Religious Kitsch, Milwaukee Ave

Family Fashoin, Milwaukee Ave

DS Yo Yo, Milwaukee Ave

Barry Medical, Milwaukee Ave

Wicker Park was first settled by German and Scandinavian immigrants. In the 1860s many Polish immigrants joined them there. So many that the intersection of Milwaukee/Division/Ashland became known as Polish Downtown. In the 1950s many of the Poles moved away and Mexicans and Puerto Ricans moved in. Most recently, artists and hipsters have begun to take over. Milwaukee Ave. where it meets Division and Ashland is part of the ooooold neighborhood. A few blocks after this and you start to see a trendy shop here and a sushi restaurant there and before you know it you’re in what looks like an entirely different place. But it’s still Wicker Park.

See Also
ยป The Many Accents of Wicker Park by Brenda Fowler for The New York Times