[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 95 (Friday, June 3, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE CRYSTAL RESTAURANT ON ITS DESIGNATION AS A HISTORIC 
                                BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELISE M. STEFANIK

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 3, 2022

  Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The Crystal 
Restaurant in Watertown on its rich history and its special designation 
as a historic business. The Crystal has been named to the New York 
State Historic Preservation Registry as they have been operating for 
over fifty years and contribute tremendously to the Watertown 
community.
  The Crystal Restaurant is Watertown's oldest restaurant, opening in 
1925 under the ownership of brothers Dennis and Jerry Valanos. In 1928, 
The Crystal hired Otto Dephtereos as chef. Fifteen years later, Otto 
and his brother Nicholas, took over and purchased The Crystal. After 
Otto's son, Joseph, a radio gunner on a B-24 bomber during World War 
II, returned from England, he and his brother, Leo, took over The 
Crystal. Today, Peter Dephtereos, along with his wife and brother, 
manage the restaurant and maintain the beloved traditions of The 
Crystal.
  For many decades, the Dephtereos family has stewarded the oldest 
restaurant in Watertown and preserved timeless traditions, like the 
``Tom and Jerry'' cocktail. The Crystal remains a thriving tribute to 
the history of Watertown. It is home to one of the last stand-up bars 
in the country and even boasts a cash register that rang up President 
Franklin Roosevelt's bill in the 1930s. Few things have changed at the 
restaurant, and The Crystal prides itself on being a fixture in 
Watertown's history.
  The Crystal is an incredible North Country establishment and has been 
an important asset to the Watertown community for over nine decades. On 
behalf of New York's 21st District, I am proud to celebrate the rich 
history of The Crystal Restaurant and congratulate it on its 
designation as a historic business on the New York State Historic 
Preservation Registry.

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