Has anyone ever noticed that the Dominican population in the MidWest (Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio) has increased alot in the past 10 years? Texas is not MidWest but the Dominicans are growing in that area too. I remember when it was rare to see another Dominican in these areas.

What is making people move from the east coast?

Times have changed. As Dominicans have settled and integrated themselves into the American landscape, they have also become accustomed to following job or educational opportunities whereever they may be located. I know that in the Kansas City area there is a small Dominican community, as in Cleveland and Cincinatti as well. Dominicans have been in the Grand Rapids community in Michigan since the 70s, according to some of my old neighbors in DR that used to reside there. The biggest group of Dominicans that reside away from the East Coast is located in Houston, TX. But the biggest surprise is the group of Dominicans that reside in the Los Angeles area - approx. 17-20 thousand from what I've read on the subject from different websites that track these statistics such as DANR.org, the Census Bureau and other sites....we're all over the damn place, lol

Houston, really? Chicago has a very large population its hard to tell if its bigger than Houston because most Dominicans in Chicago are born in Chicago so they might say that they are US citizens instead of Dominican.
My cusin went to college in LA and said that there are hardly any Dominicans out there

estrella,
You never know. We are crazy sometimes lol.
people from the south like whiskey - Dominicans like whiskey
country music uses the guitar and is usually about how a girl left him - bachata uses the guitar and some bachatas are about ella me dejo.

I'm always amused by the perception of the general public (white & black Americans, other Latinos) when they come across Dominicans.

USADR,
the women love Dominican men

I think that the Ingredients are imported from Euro but I know that its made in DR.
I hear you. In Chicago you can only get some Brugal or Presidente in Dominican clubs only, and they charge a good fee for that. A shot of Brugal $5USD!!! you can buy a small bottle in DR. Small Presidente beer $4 to $5USD. Its too crazy.

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Where you getting Presidente?! I've been looking for the past couple years and places always say there's some licensing issue w/ the state of Illinois that makes it difficult to carry.

Are there other Dominican clubs besides El Sitio? Where?

So far the only Dominican stuff I've found around here is El Sitio http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-sitio-chicago, Tropical Taste http://www.yelp.com/biz/tropical-taste-chicago, Punta Cana (closed), and a few people here and there. Please share if you know of any other places where one might find Dominicans in Chicago.

Oh and you can get Bruagal in some mom and pop shops for not too much (around the price of bacardi). There's this liquor store not too far from my spot called Around the Clock that usually carry's fifths for ~$15. Its by the Howard station.

The only Dominican club is el sitio. He has Presidente sometimes. I know a few shops that sell brugal but they only have anejo not extra viejo. Does the one that you go to have extra viejo? La bodegita dominicana would bring some presidente from NY for some clients. If you know him give him a call. But its the presidente imported by miller.
I wish that Punta Cana cafe never closed they had some great food

Also,
there is a pizza place called premium pizza owned by Dominicans, its pretty good they make more than pizza. by grand and hamlin

Pretty sure its just viejo but i'll check next time i'm by there. Didn't even know about that bodegita spot. I'll prob hit that up this wknd when i go to Tropical Taste. Only went to Punta Cana once, good chivo. Nice owner too, kinda reminded me of my uncle. Thanks.