Tacoma

The neighborhood known as Hilltop in Tacoma was the primary home for immigrating Italians, primarily from Calabria, coming into the Tacoma area where it thrived as an enclave. Many stores populated the neighborhood with names like Greco, Manza, Meili, and Reda. A church was built for the area’s Italians and was named St. Rita of Cascia, under the guidance of Achilles Bruno. The church is still standing, though it no longer serves primarily Italians, and above its entrance is a painting of a hillside Italian town along with the title of “ST. RITA of CASCIA – ITALY”.