In the town of New Britain, Connecticut there is a community that celebrates their heritage daily. Little Poland is located along Broad Street and provides a place where people can bank, buy groceries, order a meal, read a newspaper and much more all in Polish. The community is rich in tradition and growing every year.
This community of Polish Americans has been strong since the end of the 19th century. In 2008, the city of New Britain officially designated the area of Broad Street as Little Poland. Residents feel that this tiny part of the United States is just like their homeland in Europe.
Sacred Heart Church is the center of Little Poland. It towers magestically with its beautiful architecture and draws thousands to its services on the weekends.
From the names of the businesses to the flags posted outside, you know that you are experiencing something special when you walk through Little Poland.
The authentic food of Poland is evident in its many restaurants. Whether you are looking for a perfect pierogi or a satisfying sausage, there are many wonderful choices in the neighborhood.
If you are searching for those hard to find original Polish ingredients, there are a few markets like Polmart that import what you can't find in supermarket chains.
The community has a Polish language school where the youth can learn to speak and read the language. In addition, the traditions of Poland are taught as well to keep the culutre alive.
The White Eagle is a Polish-American newspaper that you will find often in Little Poland. The publication covers Polish news, United States news, as well as current events about the local Polish communities. It is written in Polish and comes out 26 times per year.
Little Poland has many things to offer the community. Bakeries, butcher shops, barbers, and hardware stores are just a sampling of the small businesses owned by Polish Americans.
Every April, the neighborhood holds a Polish festival that draws thousands of visitors. The Polonae Dance Group performs as one of the entertainment shows during the festival.
Little Poland makes sure that it keeps old world tradition alive while keeping up with current trends. It includes the youth in community activities and maintains its own Facebook page and Twitter account.
